Online RN to BSN Programs in Washington

Best RN to BSN Online Programs in Washington

1. Washington State University

• Program: Online/Hybrid RN-BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 3-4 Semesters
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: No

WSU’s flexible Online/Hybrid RN-BSN is a no-brainer for our Best WA rankings! The College of Nursing is an NLN Center of Excellence, a hub for research, and a great place to build career connections. WSU will expect you to attend one on-campus meeting per semester. However, you can choose from five WSU College of Nursing sites (Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Yakima, Vancouver, and Walla Walla). You’ll also complete a population health project and an independent capstone. Keep in mind that the BSN can serve as an entry point to a number of graduate programs, including the nationally ranked MSN.

2. Northwest University

• Program: Online RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Length: 5 Semesters (Part-Time)
• Accepts Out-of-State RNs: Only WA, OR, MT or AK

Are you a Northwest RN looking for an online Christian program? Northwest’s faith-based Online RN to BSN may be right up your alley. It contains unique coursework in areas such as Values-Based Health Care, Global Health, and Culturally Responsive Nursing. The Buntain College of Nursing has upped its game in recent years—NCLEX pass rates are starting to exceed 95%—and it offers an Online MSN. You’re welcome to connect with nursing educators on the Kirkland, Washington campus. Attend a virtual information session for more details on clinicals & career connections.

Cheapest RN to BSN Online Programs in Washington

Calculating the exact price of RN to BSN programs in Washington State is a little tricky! In addition to standard tuition rates, many WA public universities & colleges have per semester/quarter fees and one-off costs. Since these programs are hybrid, you’ll also have to consider commuting expenses and time spent on campus.

Our top 3 picks for the cheapest Washington Online RN to BSN programs appear to be between $9,000-$10,000 (baseline price), but we recommend you ask the RN to BSN program coordinator for a sample budget with all additional fees included. You might also want to take a look at our rankings of the Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs in the country.

1. Columbia Basin College

• Program: Hybrid RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 30
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for CBC’s Hybrid RN to BSN can be found under the section on BAS/BSN tuition & fees. You’ll see that CBC’s per credit estimate includes comprehensive, instructional support & technology fees, as well as special fees levied by the Associated Student Body of Columbia Basin College. However, there may be additional course fees.

2. Olympic College

• Program: Hybrid RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 45
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

Olympic provides a breakdown of sample costs for the 45-credit Hybrid RN to BSN in the Nursing FAQ section. You can double-check these numbers against the Tuition & Fees page—you’ll be paying the upper division tuition rate for Washington residents. Additional fees will apply.

3. Bellevue College

• Program: Hybrid RN to BSN
• RN to BSN Credits: 45-50
• Affordable Pick for Out-of-State: No
• Cost Info: Tuition & Fees

If you don’t need to take the extra humanities elective, Bellevue’s Hybrid RN to BSN has a slightly higher upper division tuition rate for WA residents than Olympic College. Additional fees will apply.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in Washington

For our Fastest rankings, we looked for Washington schools that offered Online RN to BSN programs that were less than 3 semesters/1 year. We didn’t find any in our search. The standard full-time length for public options was usually 3 semesters or 4 quarters. Even private options like Saint Martin’s University’s Hybrid RN to BSN tend to take a year.

If speed is truly of the essence, skim through our rankings of the Fastest Online RN to BSN Programs in the nation. There are a number of self-paced and 2-semester/8 month options in that list.

RN to BSN Scholarships in Washington

RN to BSN Requirements in Washington

RN Licensure: Online RN to BSN degrees are classified as “post-licensure” programs. That means Washington universities will expect you to have—or be in the process of earning—an RN license.

• If you’re waiting to sit the NCLEX exam, you may still be able to apply to certain Washington RN to BSN programs.
• For example, UWB and Bellevue offer conditional acceptance, as long as you pass the NCLEX by the end of the second quarter.

The Washington Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) can answer any questions you may have about state RN licensure. It also posts a list of Commission-Approved Nursing Schools—including ones that offer RN to BSN and graduate programs—on its website. Once you have a shortlist of options, you might even wish to look up recent NCLEX Pass Rates as a quality check.

State Authorization: Do you live outside of Washington State?

• We want to point out that the vast majority of Washington RN to BSN programs are a) hybrid; and b) limited to applicants with a current Washington RN license.
• Even Northwest University, which is a private Christian university, limits its Online RN to BSN to candidates with a current RN license in Washington, Alaska, Montana, or Oregon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are 100% Online RN to BSN Programs in Washington Available?

Yes, but they are rare. Almost all of the RN to BSN programs in our Washington listings are hybrid, with required in-person coursework. Big public universities, smaller public colleges, private options like Saint Martin’s—all of these have opted for a blended model.

You do have a couple of options if you can’t afford to visit a campus:

• Northwest University’s Online RN to BSN appears to be 100% online. However, you are welcome to interact with university nursing educators on the Kirkland campus.
• The Washington branch of Western Governors University (WGU Washington) offers a CCNE-accredited & 100% Online RN to BSN. We talk more about WGU in our profile of Online RN to BSN Programs in Utah.

Why Are There So Many Hybrid RN to BSN Programs in Washington?

We’re not entirely sure. It may be the standard format for Washington public university & college RN to BSN programs. It may have something to do with Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) guidelines.

COVID-19 has thrown a spanner into the works for many hybrid plans of study, so keep an eye on the program websites. Washington schools like WSU have already begun to transition into a predominately online format.

Can I Choose a “No Clinicals” Online RN to BSN in Washington?

Not really. Because of degree regulations, CCNE-accredited and ACEN-accredited RN to BSN programs almost always include practicums. And if they don’t, the should!

But these experiences won’t be like bedside clinicals at the associate degree or diploma level. Instead, they’ll often focus on community & population health fieldwork and leadership training. Here are just a few examples of what you can expect from BSN-level clinicals in Washington:

• WSU’s Online/Hybrid RN-BSN includes a community/population health project and an independent capstone.
• UWB’s Hybrid RN to BSN features a Population-based Health in Community Practice course that includes 70+ hours spent largely engaged directly in the work of community health agencies.
• UWT’s Hybrid RN to BSN contains a Health, Communities, and Populations practicum where student groups connect with stakeholders in the community to address a specific concern.
• Northwest’s Online RN to BSN includes an immersion in a public health agency that provides a variety of care approaches to community clients.

Do I Need Statistics To Apply for Washington Online RN to BSN Programs?

Maybe. Statistics is a standard prerequisite for Washington RN to BSN programs. We saw it listed in admissions requirements for all kinds of schools (e.g. UWB, UWT, WWU, Olympic, CBC, etc.).

But we recommend you check with the RN to BSN program coordinator about timing. Some schools will allow you to take statistics as a “co-requisite.” For instance:

• In Northwest University’s Online RN to BSN, statistics can be completed prior to taking NURS 4664.
• In WVC’s Hybrid RN to BSN, you’re allowed to finish statistics, chemistry, and humanities credits concurrently.

Are There Any Online RN to BSN to MSN Programs in Washington?

Not that we could find!

• UWT offers a dedicated ADN-BSN-MN program, but it’s hybrid in nature. You’ll be expected to visit the campus a number of times.
• WSU’s hybrid RN to MN pathway is only for RNs with a bachelor’s degree in another field.
• And Gonzaga’s Online RN to MSN plan of study does not include a BSN as part of the program.

If you’re interested in graduate work, but you need a BSN for employment purposes, have a look at the online options in our guide to RN to BSN to MSN Programs.