Columbia University Masters Direct Entry (Hybrid MDE) - Fall 2025

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Anyone has submitted an application for this program? I decided to rollover my previous application to this one, but a bit pessimistic that they would actually accept me 🙃

Yeah they sent me the email after I already accepted another school. So I'm just waiting to hear back, I'm not sure why I still haven't Back. But I'm currently enrolled to start at another school in the fall and it's only 14 months. So IDK I'll just sit and see but not stressing, no need! 

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NSS0147 said:

I would be really interested to see that email if you don't mind sharing it 🙂 . There are many things that have given me pause over the years with CUSON LOL and I admit when I saw this, I was confused...because the existing MDE program is already a hybrid program...so I'm not sure how they're trying to sell this as something different (especially if they're planning to charge you even more).

Here's the email:

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Hybrid Master's Entry to Nursing (HMDE) program, starting this Fall! This innovative hybrid format 24-month program is designed specifically for non-nursing college graduates who aspire to become registered nurses (RNs).

The Hybrid MDE program offers a unique opportunity for students to ease into the transition to graduate school, making it an ideal choice for those with competing priorities that may prevent them from enrolling in a traditional accelerated nursing program.

Program Highlights:

Fully remote for the first two semesters (Fall 2025 - Spring 2026: 9 months total): Fully remote classes held on Tuesdays, available in both synchronous and asynchronous formats. During this time, you will learn the core fundamentals of nursing.

On-campus for the final 15 months (Summer 2026 - Summer 2027): After the initial two semesters, you will join your MDE cohort on-campus with a reduced course load (compared to the accelerated MDE program), allowing for a more manageable transition into hands-on nursing education for your final 4 semesters.

Most prerequisites can be completed during program: Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II must be completed prior to the start of the program. The rest of the prerequisites can be completed concurrently through our OPEN program during the first two semesters of the Hybrid MDE program (see Admissions Requirements below for details). 

Degree awarded is a Masters of Science in Nursing: RN licensure eligible upon completion.

Financial aid is available: Scholarships and federal loans are available.

And attached the program plan.

 

MDE Hybrid Program Plan.pdf

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GODSPLAN2024_ said:

Yeah they sent me the email after I already accepted another school. So I'm just waiting to hear back, I'm not sure why I still haven't Back. But I'm currently enrolled to start at another school in the fall and it's only 14 months. So IDK I'll just sit and see but not stressing, no need! 

Congrats!! I'm accepted to start in 2 weeks so kinda juggling. I had emailed them about some questions I had so waiting to hear back.

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nyc2025 said:

Here's the email:

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Hybrid Master's Entry to Nursing (HMDE) program, starting this Fall! This innovative hybrid format 24-month program is designed specifically for non-nursing college graduates who aspire to become registered nurses (RNs).

The Hybrid MDE program offers a unique opportunity for students to ease into the transition to graduate school, making it an ideal choice for those with competing priorities that may prevent them from enrolling in a traditional accelerated nursing program.

Program Highlights:

Fully remote for the first two semesters (Fall 2025 - Spring 2026: 9 months total): Fully remote classes held on Tuesdays, available in both synchronous and asynchronous formats. During this time, you will learn the core fundamentals of nursing.

On-campus for the final 15 months (Summer 2026 - Summer 2027): After the initial two semesters, you will join your MDE cohort on-campus with a reduced course load (compared to the accelerated MDE program), allowing for a more manageable transition into hands-on nursing education for your final 4 semesters.

Most prerequisites can be completed during program: Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II must be completed prior to the start of the program. The rest of the prerequisites can be completed concurrently through our OPEN program during the first two semesters of the Hybrid MDE program (see Admissions Requirements below for details). 

Degree awarded is a Masters of Science in Nursing: RN licensure eligible upon completion.

Financial aid is available: Scholarships and federal loans are available.

And attached the program plan.

 

MDE Hybrid Program Plan.pdf

Interesting....So they're basically having you start with what would be a part time schedule of the second semester of the regular MDE program by not having you do 5x5's or clinicals....and then starting the following Summer you essentially do the whole MDE program with the following cohort minus patho in the fall and Spring and ambulatory and care coordination. For the amount of money they are likely going to charge this gives me extreme pause...because they already charge a fortune to students who opt to go part time in the MDE program.

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nyc2025 said:

Congrats!! I'm accepted to start in 2 weeks so kinda juggling. I had emailed them about some questions I had so waiting to hear back.

Thank you!! And same, I haven't receive my offer from Columbia yet, I reached out tot hem this morning so I'm waiting to hear back and see what the hold up is. Once received I'll decide, but I'm a little weary because I've heard not the best things, and the first of any program usually is like a "guinea pig" type situation. Not to mention if everything is already organized and laid out, and I'm turned off by the 24 months vs 15 months in the regular MDE. 
 

I tried calling but no one is answering 

Also quick questions, for those that receive their offer. How much are they requiring as a deposit for a seat and how long do you have to submit it? I want to talk to my family about it and if I don't hear back for my them this week I'm just gonna forgo them because it's just unprofessional and unorganized at this point, they do this every single admissions cycle ...

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NSS0147 said:

Interesting....So they're basically having you start with what would be a part time schedule of the second semester of the regular MDE program by not having you do 5x5's or clinicals....and then starting the following Summer you essentially do the whole MDE program with the following cohort minus patho in the fall and Spring and ambulatory and care coordination. For the amount of money they are likely going to charge this gives me extreme pause...because they already charge a fortune to students who opt to go part time in the MDE program.

Yep! they quote us 150k as just the tuition alone but they gave me scholarship. It works if you're juggling other responsibilities, I believe.  My other program ends in a NP but I'm interested in CRNA school so I'm unsure which to go to.  This is a newer program and the other is more established.  I'm just looking to see which one will get me a job faster.  Thoughts? 

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GODSPLAN2024_ said:

Thank you!! And same, I haven't receive my offer from Columbia yet, I reached out tot hem this morning so I'm waiting to hear back and see what the hold up is. Once received I'll decide, but I'm a little weary because I've heard not the best things, and the first of any program usually is like a "guinea pig" type situation. Not to mention if everything is already organized and laid out, and I'm turned off by the 24 months vs 15 months in the regular MDE. 
 

I tried calling but no one is answering 

Also quick questions, for those that receive their offer. How much are they requiring as a deposit for a seat and how long do you have to submit it? I want to talk to my family about it and if I don't hear back for my them this week I'm just gonna forgo them because it's just unprofessional and unorganized at this point, they do this every single admissions cycle ...

Ah! I've never called and always emailed but they're usually fast so this is atypical - from my experience.  $500 for a seat and we have until 8/4 deadline.  My experience with them is atypical, they've always been fast response and turn around time but I've heard from other people it's disorganized and slow response. I don't mind being the first guina pig but I just want to make sure I'm going to get what I need in terms of experience and employment afterwards. 

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NSS0147 said:

Interesting....So they're basically having you start with what would be a part time schedule of the second semester of the regular MDE program by not having you do 5x5's or clinicals....and then starting the following Summer you essentially do the whole MDE program with the following cohort minus patho in the fall and Spring and ambulatory and care coordination. For the amount of money they are likely going to charge this gives me extreme pause...because they already charge a fortune to students who opt to go part time in the MDE program.

I think it's certainly not for everyone since it is a brand new program with no rep and just piggybacking on the current MDE program. However, I'd assume that they would charge pretty much the same money as the regular MDE (if not, a little more). The part-time schedule in the beginning is actually a good thing for me, as I literally just moved several months back to another state to supposedly start another program in a few weeks. The way the HMDE was set up was definitely not ideal but I quite like how it is now.

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nyc2025 said:

Ah! I've never called and always emailed but they're usually fast so this is atypical - from my experience.  $500 for a seat and we have until 8/4 deadline.  My experience with them is atypical, they've always been fast response and turn around time but I've heard from other people it's disorganized and slow response. I don't mind being the first guina pig but I just want to make sure I'm going to get what I need in terms of experience and employment afterwards. 

Alright, well I am going to try to sit tight, I just hate being in Limbo. And my other school is asking for things to be done asap that cost money. And I have been pushing it off all month waiting to hear back from Columbia.I am thinking its my refences maybe they are the hold up, but other than that I could not tell you what else it would be, my application was transferred from my previous one. But I was also taking prerequs for another program that I submitted to them as soon as it was done earlier this month. so IDK but its making me nervous and I just wish they would do eveything at once. 

 

And thank you for letting me know, 8/4 is next week Monday, so I'm assuming they would let whoever else has not hear back yet know at least a week from that date, hopefully.  

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nyc2025 said:

Yep! they quote us 150k as just the tuition alone but they gave me scholarship. It works if you're juggling other responsibilities, I believe.  My other program ends in a NP but I'm interested in CRNA school so I'm unsure which to go to.  This is a newer program and the other is more established.  I'm just looking to see which one will get me a job faster.  Thoughts? 

So If you're looking for faster employment it depends on what the timeline is for your other school. In the regular MDE program I was able to start working as an RN after I took the NCLEX in September after the program ended in August. I was doing the DNP at the same time and obviously required another 2 years before I could start as an NP. As it stands, this new format would leave you able to work as an RN in the fall of 2027. Is the other program you're looking at Vanderbilt? Just asking because I remember their program was a straight 2 year NP Program. I think it all really depends on your own circumstances. I certainly (and many hundreds) have my own biases against CUSON. It's highly disorganized, have really unclear and inconsistent standards and really poor quality control. I can go on. I still have current students coming to me for survival advice because of their experience. My true opinion is that it's a cash cow. However, I viewed it as a means to an end and something I just had to go through. I do not believe the quality of education is worth the price however and I don't think it provides any significant advantages over going to a more affordable program like a CUNY or SUNY. I do think nursing programs in general suffer from similar dysfunction and I can only speak to my experience and that of my colleagues...but even current faculty who are alum of the program do not speak kindly of it. This is why I am so hesitant of this new program being established, because they can't even properly run their existing programs...both MDE and DNPs.

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NSS0147 said:

So If you're looking for faster employment it depends on what the timeline is for your other school. In the regular MDE program I was able to start working as an RN after I took the NCLEX in September after the program ended in August. I was doing the DNP at the same time and obviously required another 2 years before I could start as an NP. As it stands, this new format would leave you able to work as an RN in the fall of 2027. Is the other program you're looking at Vanderbilt? Just asking because I remember their program was a straight 2 year NP Program. I think it all really depends on your own circumstances. I certainly (and many hundreds) have my own biases against CUSON. It's highly disorganized, have really unclear and inconsistent standards and really poor quality control. I can go on. I still have current students coming to me for survival advice because of their experience. My true opinion is that it's a cash cow. However, I viewed it as a means to an end and something I just had to go through. I do not believe the quality of education is worth the price however and I don't think it provides any significant advantages over going to a more affordable program like a CUNY or SUNY. I do think nursing programs in general suffer from similar dysfunction and I can only speak to my experience and that of my colleagues...but even current faculty who are alum of the program do not speak kindly of it. This is why I am so hesitant of this new program being established, because they can't even properly run their existing programs...both MDE and DNPs.

That's what I've heard.  I got into Yale's GEPN program and we're to start in about 3 weeks but then this acceptance came about. If my goal is to be a CRNA, this would shave a year off since Yale's program is 3 years but I can also take a gap year at Yale after getting RN license to work/gain experience or whatever. I know Yale's program is definitely more established and organized but I read and heard things about Columbia's program - good and bad!

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nyc2025 said:

That's what I've heard.  I got into Yale's GEPN program and we're to start in about 3 weeks but then this acceptance came about. If my goal is to be a CRNA, this would shave a year off since Yale's program is 3 years but I can also take a gap year at Yale after getting RN license to work/gain experience or whatever. I know Yale's program is definitely more established and organized but I read and heard things about Columbia's program - good and bad!

I'm glad to hear things at Yale have gotten better. I think it was around 2022 (?) that they gutted their entire admin. I hope you're able to make whatever decision is in your best interest in terms of helping you achieve your goals! I will say that the people in CRNA at Columbia are very happy with their program. So even if you decided to go to Yale and get the RN and then apply for transfer to CRNA at Columbia...that's always an option to. 

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