Direct Entry MSN Programs for Non Nursing Majors Online

Louisiana State University
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Ranked 295th nationally by Times Higher Education, Louisiana State University is a public, land-grant SURA member in Baton Rouge that offers 89 master’s, 68 doctoral, and 15 graduate certificate options, including 18 fully online programs, with a 20:1 student-faculty ratio. For example, the M.S. in Kinesiology – Sport Management has a 12-month, COSMA-accredited track headed by Dr. Chad Seifried with 36 credits of $1,917 online courses from Facilities Management to Organizational Behavior and 180 internship hours. Chaired by Dr. Kristin Gansle, the M.A.Ed. in Educational Technology provides a 36-credit, CAEP-accredited plan for certified teachers to add the PK-12 Technology Leader Endorsement after self-paced online classes like Educational Media, practicum, and a capstone.

Accelerated Master’s Degrees Available on LSU Online

Louisiana State University appears in our ranking of the Top 35 Most Affordable Accelerated Master’s in Higher Education Online.

Online on Moodle since Fall 2019, the M.S. in Civil Engineering has delivered a 36-credit, ABET-accredited curriculum led by Dr. George Voyiadjis with 7000-level courses like Pavement Materials and Highway Design before the comprehensive exam for an average $75,000 starting salary. Directed by Dr. Dean Smith, the Master of Public Health follows a 42-credit, CEPH-accredited online path with 200 fieldwork hours at off-campus partners, such as CrescentCare, Lead Safe Louisiana, New Orleans East Hospital, and Catholic Charities.

Other online master’s include the M.S. in Construction Management, M.A.Ed. in Higher Education Administration, M.A. in Liberal Arts, M.S. in Environmental Science, Master of Social Work, M.B.A. in Data Analytics, and M.S. in Human Resource Development.

About Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University originated on January 2, 1860, when William Tecumseh Sherman created the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy in Rapides Parish. In April 1863, the Seminary was closed as most students fought for the Confederacy. In Fall 1865, David F. Boyd reopened the Seminary despite Reconstruction Era struggles. Destroyed by fire in 1869, the Seminary was moved to Baton Rouge’s former Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind. In 1877, it became the Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College using Morrill Grant funds. In 1905, Miss R.O. Davis became Louisiana State’s first woman enrolled. Fully coeducational in 1908, LSU purchased its current 4,925 acres near the Capitol in 1918. Twelve years later, Governor Huey Pierce Long started a 120,000-square-foot building project here. In 1953, Mr. A.P. Tureaud Jr. became LSU’s first African-American student. By 1988, Louisiana State University was on the National Register of Historic Places.

Endowed for $558.3 million, Louisiana State University now employs 2,001 faculty training 25,233 undergrad and 5,750 post-grad Tigers from 50 states online, on its 250-building Baton Rouge campus, or at seven sites with 570+ clubs like the Queer Graduate Student Alliance. In 2019, LSU won an Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence Award. In 2018, Louisiana State received an ABCA Academic Excellence Award. Louisiana State University accepted the 2019 GBRIA Post-Secondary Continuing Education Award too. The U.S. News & World Report placed LSU 43rd for online engineering and 88th for online MBA degrees. On Niche, LSU boasts America’s 62nd best teaching programs and 95th top public education. Forbes crowned Louisiana State University the 110th best value. The Center for World University Rankings named LSU 82nd overall with the 190th most research output.

Louisiana State University Accreditation Details

On December 7, 2014, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees reaffirmed the Level VI accreditation status for Louisiana State University through the next 2023-24 evaluation under President F. King Alexander, PhD, who earned the CCEJ Humanitarian Award. Located 532 miles northeast via Interstate 85 in Decatur, this giant 11-state Gulf Coast Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE). The Office of Institutional Effectiveness also lists these online degree approvals:

  • Council on Social Work Education
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Council on Education for Public Health
  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • American Council for Construction Education
  • Commission on Sport Management Accreditation

Louisiana State University Application Requirements

Admission at Louisiana State University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 18,024 of the 24,280 Fall 2018 applicants were selected for 74 percent acceptance. Post-grad Tigers must be awarded a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Three years of full-time, equivalent foreign education is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The last 60 undergraduate credits must have a 3.0 or better GPA. Some online programs, such as the M.A.Ed. in Educational Technology, admit 2.75-3.0 GPAs on probation. Taking the Graduate Record Exam is generally optional. If required, Louisiana State seeks a minimum 153 verbal and 144 quantitative GRE score. The Online M.S. in Kinesiology lists a target GRE composite score of 295-300. The E.J. Ourso College of Business prefers Online M.B.A. candidates with GMAT scores above 500. GMAT waivers are reserved for individuals with 3.70 or greater GPAs and five years of business experience. International students must be fluent with at least 550 TOEFL pBT, 6.5 IELTS, or 59 PTE scores.

Louisiana State University’s Graduate School has U.S. deadlines of June 30th for Fall, November 15th for Spring, and May 1st for Summer starts. International post-grads must apply by April 15th, October 1st, or April 15th. LSU Online deadlines differ because of the accelerated eight-week module format though. Online master’s cohorts must file before April 6th, June 15th, August 19th, October 14th, December 1st, or February 10th. Accordingly, complete the LSU Application digitally for $50 ($70 if foreign). Send official bachelor’s transcripts to 114 West David Boyd Hall in Baton Rouge, LA 70803 or through E-Script. Forward graduate entrance exams using ETS code 6373. Attach supplemental materials, such as the 2-3 recommendation letters, curriculum vitae or resume, PK-12 teaching certificate, and personal statement. Contact (833) 280-5634 or lsuonline@lsu.edu with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2020-21, Louisiana State University is charging traditional in-state master’s tuition of $12,541 annually. Full-time, non-resident Graduate School pricing is $29,456 per year. These figures include the $653 required on-campus fees. Living at the Baton Rouge housing like Edward Gay Apartments adds $3,750 to $4,075 each semester. Traditional annual post-grad attendance averages $32,962 in-state and $49,639 out-of-state. However, LSU Online has a different, cheaper pay schedule. Online M.A.Ed. courses are $459 per credit. The M.S. in Environmental Science costs $546 per credit. Master of Social Work cohorts pay $539 per credit. M.S. in Civil Engineering students cover $779 per credit. Online M.S. in Construction Management studies are priced $814 per credit. The Master of Business Administration requires the most at $1,110 per credit online.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Enrollment Management in Pleasant Hall connects 96 percent of new full-time LSU Tigers to financial aid averaging $11,821 each for $53.74 million combined. Graduate School funds include the Board of Supervisors Scholarship, Jimmy Hoover Scholarship, Florinell Morton Scholarship, Sidone Lawrence Walker Scholarship, Ollie Burns Scholarship, Charles Patterson Scholarship, John & Hester Slocum Fellowship, Tillotson Design Associates Scholarship, Marathon Oil Company Scholarship, Joseph Callaway Memorial Fellowship, William Newman Scholarship, Gary Weill Memorial Scholarship, and Elliott Dow Healy Memorial Fellowship. The $500 Ben & Pauline Stanley Graduate Student Excellence Award supports master’s students with 18+ credits earned. Since 1964, the Charles E. Coates Memorial Fund has offered $5,000 Research Scholar Awards for promising STEM graduate students. Federal resources, such as the Graduate Plus Loan and Unsubsidized Direct Loan, require FAFSA forms coded 002010. Louisianans also pursue the Kenneth Keffer Memorial Scholarship, Gil Dupre Graduate Scholarship, Mary Moore Mitchell Scholarship, Nelda Seal Endowed Scholarship, and more.

Learn more about Louisiana State University at the LSU Online Department website.

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