MSN Education Programs bizarre range

Higher education, particularly at its "higher levels" are not "cookie cutter" operations. They do not run on a consumer-based model in which the school produces a product (education and/or degree) and the consumer comparison shops and buys. Nor do accrediting organizations or licensing boards lay down a lot of specific requirements (except in professional schools such as medicine or law in which eligibility to take a licensing exam is involved). Each faculty and each school is given a lot of freedom to determine its degree requirements. That's why a school's reputation is considered so important.

The system is based on a tradition that goes back to ancient times in which faculty members allowed talented students to study with them, do scholarly work, etc. ... and after prooving to the faculty that they are worthy of being considered a fellow expert scholars, a degree was awarded. In some disciplines, it has been common for students not to be required to take any class to earn a PhD -- just produce scholarly work of sufficient quality that contributes meaningfully to the discipline. In other schools and in other disciplines, set courses are customarily required.

The "everybody should do it the same" mentality has never been a big part of the culture of higher education. It is a culture that values uniqueness and the freedom for each faculty to set their own standards. The work of a scholar requires a mind and activities that explore uncharted territory and advance thinking beyond the conventional. Such a mind (and population of professors) does not take well to outsiders trying to force them into a neat and tidy box. That's what tenure is all about -- the right for an established scholar to pursue scholarly interests without the interference of outsiders -- to not have to bend to political influence -- etc.

Academics value that freedom almost about all else.

Also, the OP does not mention which specialty concentration(s) (if any) s/he is looking at, just "MSNs." There is a big difference between, for example, a Master's in nursing education and a CRNA (or other advanced practice concentration) program. Part of the issue may be that s/he is "comparing apples and oranges" rather than the same kinds of MSN programs.