Top RN-to-BSN Programs + Online Options in Washington

NurseJournal Staff
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Updated on November 5, 2024
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    Interested in advancing your nursing degree in Washington state? You can convert your RN into a bachelor's degree in nursing for new opportunities.
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    Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

    Featured ImageCredit: Feng Wei Photography / Moment / Getty Images

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated that some 53,000 registered nurses (RN) were employed in Washington state as of May 2013. Their average annual salary was $76,420, which is well above the national average.

    At the same time, there is a significant nursing shortage in the state. As a result, employers are trying to make the profession more attractive through higher wages and other incentives.

    Many RNs earn their license after obtaining an associate degree, but the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree is favored by many employers because of the more in-depth education is provides. Here are the top 7 Washington BSN degree programs to help you get you bachelor’s degree and move to the next level in your nursing career.

    Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs

    Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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    Explore the Best Washington RN BSN Programs and Schools

    We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
    from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.
    Top RN-to-BSN Programs + Online Options in Washington

    Eastern Washington University

    • Location-markerCheney, WA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online

    At Eastern Washington University, students can take part in the BSN degree. The school has partnered with Washington State University and Whitworth University to deliver the said program. Students are able to complete prerequisite courses at various universities before they complete their BSN at Eastern Washington University, for instance. The program is incredibly rigorous and high demands are placed on the students.

    • Campus: Tri-Cities, Spokane and Yakima, WA
    • Type: Public
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: Varies depending on personal circumstances and residency status
    • Minimum time commitment: Four years
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: Prerequisite courses, GPA of 3.0 minimum, TEAS, interview
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
    Average Undergrad Tuition
    • In-State$7,080
    • Out-of-state$25,464
    Average Graduate Tuition
    • In-State$12,661
    • Out-of-state$27,987
    • Retention Rate67%
    • Acceptance Rate88%
    • Students Enrolled10,700
    • Institution TypePublic
    • Percent Online Enrollment55%
    • AccreditationYes
    Top RN-to-BSN Programs + Online Options in Washington

    Gonzaga University

    • Location-markerSpokane, WA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online

    Gonzage University’s BSN program is grounded on the traditions of the Jesuit faith. This means that nurses are not just leaders, but servants as well. They place an emphasis on community, social justice and reflective practice. The curriculum enables students to become focused on caring for patients with chronic and acute illnesses, promoting health and offering support to families of patients during end-of-life situations. The framework of the curriculum is organized around Complex Adaptive Systems. This means that students look firstly after those people who have predictable needs for their health. Only once they have completed this part will they move on to more complex needs, families and entire populations.

    • Campus: Spokane, WA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $36,040 per year
    • Minimum time commitment: 9 semesters
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
    Average Undergrad Tuition
    • In-State$47,560
    • Out-of-state$47,560
    Average Graduate Tuition
    • In-State$14,499
    • Out-of-state$14,499
    • Retention Rate92%
    • Acceptance Rate76%
    • Students Enrolled7,381
    • Institution TypePrivate
    • Percent Online Enrollment19%
    • AccreditationYes
    Top RN-to-BSN Programs + Online Options in Washington

    Northwest University

    • Location-markerKirkland, WA
    • 4 year
    • Campus

    At Northwest University, students can take part in a BSN degree program that uses a Christian worldview. This means that they are dedicated to the holistic care of all human beings and do not discriminate among their patients. Once students have graduated, they are able to take the NCLEX-RN examination and become registered nurses. Although the focus is on nurses in Washington, the degree allows them to seek licensure in other states as well. The school is distinctive because it looks particularly at cross-cultural nursing. Additionally, it incorporates Christian views in its teachings. This is delivered by faculty staff who are highly experienced and committed to the improvement of health care through quality education.

    • Campus: Kirkland, WA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $5,330 per semester
    • Minimum time commitment: Four years
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GEDD
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
    Average Undergrad Tuition
    • In-State$33,500
    • Out-of-state$33,500
    Average Graduate Tuition
    • In-State$18,829
    • Out-of-state$18,829
    • Retention Rate79%
    • Acceptance Rate95%
    • Students Enrolled1,022
    • Institution TypePrivate
    • Percent Online Enrollment26%
    • AccreditationYes
    Top RN-to-BSN Programs + Online Options in Washington

    Pacific Lutheran University

    • Location-markerTacoma, WA
    • 4 year
    • Campus

    Pacific Lutheran University offers a basic BSN degree program. This takes three years to complete and has been designed for students who are completely new to the field of nursing. Students will be fully supervised by faculty members who are dedicated to quality education. The school works together with health agencies, large hospitals and long-term care facilities. This allows graduates to already have networking contacts within the communities that they will serve.

    • Campus: Tacoma, WA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $570 per semester hour
    • Minimum time commitment: 3 years
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED, prerequisite courses
    • Programs: Basic BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
    Average Undergrad Tuition
    • In-State$46,816
    • Out-of-state$46,816
    Average Graduate Tuition
    • In-State$29,084
    • Out-of-state$32,116
    • Retention Rate78%
    • Acceptance Rate89%
    • Students Enrolled2,633
    • Institution TypePrivate
    • Percent Online Enrollment5%
    • AccreditationYes
    Top RN-to-BSN Programs + Online Options in Washington

    Seattle Pacific University

    • Location-markerSeattle, WA
    • 4 year
    • Campus

    At Seattle Pacific University, nursing students will take part in a liberal arts curriculum. Graduates will be able to take on leadership roles in various community and acute care settings. The program focuses on health promotion as well as caring for sick people. Students will become critical thinkers with excellent ethics that drives their judgment and action. Additionally, they will be carers who believe in full collaboration. The school integrates Christian faith in its teachings. This means that the patients are seen as whole beings and that their needs in terms of mind, body and soul have to be considered. Graduates are expected to become competent individuals, something that are frequently sought out for.

    • Campus: Seattle, WA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $35,100 per year
    • Minimum time commitment: Four years
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid

    Average Undergrad Tuition
    • In-State$35,100
    • Out-of-state$35,100
    Average Graduate Tuition
    • In-State$24,273
    • Out-of-state$24,273
    • Retention Rate78%
    • Acceptance Rate91%
    • Students Enrolled3,114
    • Institution TypePrivate
    • Percent Online Enrollment29%
    • AccreditationYes
    Top RN-to-BSN Programs + Online Options in Washington

    Seattle University

    • Location-markerSeattle, WA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online

    At Seattle University, nursing students are prepared to become the best they can be in the field of nursing. They are shown how to no longer be bound by the definitions of symptoms, instead looking at a patient from the perspective of mind, body and soul. The college is a Jesuit college, which means they care for communities and individuals alike. Hence, students are looked after using those same ethics and receive personal attention from faculty members.

    • Campus: Seattle, WA
    • Type: Private
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: $37,485 per year
    • Minimum time commitment: Four years
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED, prerequisite courses
    • Programs: BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
    Average Undergrad Tuition
    • In-State$48,510
    • Out-of-state$48,510
    Average Graduate Tuition
    • In-State$13,770
    • Out-of-state$13,770
    • Retention Rate82%
    • Acceptance Rate85%
    • Students Enrolled7,121
    • Institution TypePrivate
    • Percent Online Enrollment49%
    • AccreditationYes
    Top RN-to-BSN Programs + Online Options in Washington

    University of Washington-Seattle Campus

    • Location-markerSeattle, WA
    • 4 year
    • Campus + Online

    The BSN degree program offered by the University of Washington is a program that takes just two years to complete, which sets it apart from the other programs available in the state. Students are provided with excellent foundations in humanities and science. They start as juniors, although they can also take part in an accelerated BSN program if they already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.

    • Campus: Seattle, WA
    • Type: Public
    • Accreditation: CCNE
    • Tuition: Varies depending on circumstances, residency status and chosen program
    • Minimum time commitment: 2 years, 15 months for accelerated BSN
    • Online availability: No
    • Degree requirements: High school or GED, statistics course, bachelor’s degree if applicable
    • Programs: BSN, Accelerated BSN
    • School Site: Tuition and Financial Aid
    Average Undergrad Tuition
    • In-State$10,927
    • Out-of-state$38,757
    Average Graduate Tuition
    • In-State$17,004
    • Out-of-state$30,477
    • Retention Rate94%
    • Acceptance Rate48%
    • Students Enrolled53,083
    • Institution TypePublic
    • Percent Online Enrollment19%
    • AccreditationYes