Washington
Best RN to BSN Programs in Washington, Ranked (2026)
Washington Pays RNs 4th in the Country. That Raises the Price of This Degree, Not the Payoff
The median registered nurse in Washington earns $124,200 — $26,650 above the national median and 4th of 51 states. Most pages on this site have to argue that a completion degree is worth doing against flat pay. Washington is the opposite case, and it is worth being careful about what the opposite case actually means.
It does not mean the BSN pays better here. That $124,200 is what registered nurses in this state earn — ADN, BSN and MSN counted together, because BLS does not separate them — and if you are licensed and working in Washington, you are already inside that number. The premium attaches to the license and the labor market, not to the transcript. Nothing on this page should be read as a $26,650 return on a bachelor's degree.
What the high wage genuinely changes is the other side of the ledger. The median Washington RN earns $59.71 an hour, which puts a twelve-hour shift at roughly $717 gross. Measured that way, Bellevue College's $4,205 is about 6 shifts a year and the $11,305 median is about 16. Tuition, in other words, is the small number. The hours are the big one — and in a state that pays this well, every hour a program takes out of your schedule costs more than it would somewhere else. The format of the program is therefore a bigger financial variable than its price, and it is the variable no federal file records.
The list itself is short and almost entirely public: 6 of the 7 ranked programs, at 7 different institutions, with no school appearing twice. Western Washington University takes the top spot because it and University of Washington-Bothell Campus report the same 65% institutional graduation rate and Western Washington University charges $3,629 a year less. It is also the smallest program on the page at 14 degrees a year, which the score does not measure and you should — a cohort that size can mean close attention or a narrow admissions window, and only the school can tell you which.
Read the graduation rates below with one correction in mind. IPEDS reports the share of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates who finish, and an RN-to-BSN student is none of those three things. That is why the two community colleges here, Columbia Basin College at 33% and Bellevue College at 36%, sit at the bottom of that column while offering the two cheapest routes in the state: the figure is describing an open-admission freshman cohort, not licensed nurses finishing a completion track. It is weighted below cost for exactly that reason, and it is worth asking each program what share of its own RN-to-BSN entrants finish.
On scale, Washington State University confers 295 nursing bachelor's degrees a year, about 44% of the 668 these 7 programs award between them, and still ranks 4th on the two factors the score measures.
The 7 RN to BSN Programs in Washington, Ranked
Scored on in-state tuition (55%) and institutional graduation rate (45%). How we rank.
- 1st in Washington
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public Online option $8,240 annual in-state tuition 65% institutional graduation rate 14 degrees a year 75.2 scoreWestern offers the completion degree in two forms — fully online or hybrid — and both carry the same 100 hours of practice experience arranged in the student's own community, so the four-quarter program does not require relocating or leaving a nursing job.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about Western Washington University's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)Western Washington University's RN-to-BSN is a degree-completion program for graduates of associate degree in nursing (ADN) programs. It consists of general university requirement courses plus 45 upper-division major credits, and students finish in four quarters, which the university describes as one year. There are two pathways: fully online, or hybrid, which mixes online coursework with in-person sessions. The program is listed as a capacity-constrained major and is housed in Woodring College of Education.
Both pathways include 100 hours of practice experience arranged in the student's own community, which is how the program lets nurses keep living and working where they are while completing the degree. Coursework is built around population health and health equity; course projects listed on the page include naloxone education in university settings, telemedicine for rural pediatric type 1 diabetes care, and postpartum discharge processes for patients with limited English proficiency. Admission requires an ADN and an RN license, though students in the final year of an ADN program may apply if they can obtain licensure before winter quarter; applicants without an ADN, or holding a pre-nursing associate degree, are not admitted. The baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the RN-to-BSN program holds full approval from the Washington State Board of Nursing.
- 100 hours of practice experience
- Online or hybrid pathway
- 45 upper-division major credits
- Four quarters to complete
- ADN and RN license required
- 2nd in Washington
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · Public Hybrid $11,869 annual in-state tuition 65% institutional graduation rate 113 degrees a year 71.2 scoreUW Bothell delivers the completion degree in 45 credits and as little as one year, with hybrid courses that meet roughly every other week at one of three sites: the Bothell campus, Everett, or Shoreline.Learn more about University of Washington-Bothell Campus's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)The RN-to-BSN at the University of Washington Bothell is for registered nurses who completed their initial nursing education through an associate degree or diploma program. The degree takes 45 credits, and the school states it can be completed in one year. Full-time and part-time options are both available, and classes begin in either Fall or Winter Quarter.
Coursework is hybrid. The page describes courses as meeting once per week on a bi-weekly schedule, with one core course meeting weekly, and the program runs at three locations: the UW Bothell campus, Everett, or Shoreline. Registered nursing licensure and the initial nursing education behind it are required to apply. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at UW Bothell is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and students have the opportunity to join Sigma Theta Tau International Society of Nursing.
- 45 credits to degree
- Finish in one year
- Hybrid, classes meet bi-weekly
- Three sites: Bothell, Everett, Shoreline
- CCNE-accredited
- 3rd in Washington
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · Public $11,869 annual in-state tuition 63% institutional graduation rate 115 degrees a year 70.2 scoreCourse meetings fall on a single weekday — Wednesdays — and the school states the degree can be completed in three quarters.Learn more about University of Washington-Tacoma Campus's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)The RN-BSN program at the University of Washington Tacoma's School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership enrolls registered nurses who completed the initial phase of their education through an associate degree or diploma nursing program. The curriculum builds on the professional skills those nurses already have, with stated aims of applying new knowledge in practice, making informed choices and advocating for others, facilitating change and improving communication, working effectively with diverse populations, thinking critically and assuming leadership roles, and building professional identity.
Course meeting dates are only on Wednesdays, and the school states the program can be completed in three quarters. It is structured to work for both part-time and full-time students. Coursework includes a practicum, T NURS 414, focused on health, communities and populations, and the school publishes separate practicum guidance covering CastleBranch information, preparing for practicum, and who to contact. Sample program plans are available for an autumn cohort and a summer cohort. Applications for 2027 are open through March 14, 2027.
- Classes meet Wednesdays only
- Completable in three quarters
- Part-time or full-time
- Practicum in health, communities and populations
- Autumn and summer cohort options
- 4th in Washington
Washington State University
Pullman, WA · Public Online + campus visits $11,305 annual in-state tuition 60% institutional graduation rate 295 degrees a year 69.4 scoreWSU's current RN-BSN curriculum replaces on-site, precepted clinical hours with practice experience hours earned inside two courses, through a community/population health project and a capstone project.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about Washington State University's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)Washington State University's College of Nursing offers the RN-BSN as a 30-credit degree completion program built for working nurses. Most students finish in one year, taking 12 credits in each of fall and spring and 6 in summer, and the college also offers a four-semester plan and individualized plans of study. Coursework is mostly online and students can start any semester; one attendance day per semester is required for interactive learning and meeting with course instructors. Most required courses run in eight-week blocks, including Contemporary Nursing, Nursing Research & EBP, Nursing Leadership, Nursing Management of the Healthcare Environment, Healthcare Informatics, Population Health Theory, Coordination of Care Across Complex Populations and an Advanced Practicum, plus 3 elective credits; Application of Population Health Principles runs as a 12-week course. Individual campuses add annual campus and student fees on top of tuition: $859 at Spokane, $977 at Tri-Cities and $632 at Vancouver.
Rather than sending students to precepted clinical placements, the current curriculum builds practice experiential learning hours into NURS 465 and NURS 495, where students complete a community assessment, an older adult assessment and a problem-based project under the supervision of the course instructor. Specific portions of those experiences must be completed in the State of Washington, and students who move out of state or take a travel nurse position are told to contact their advisor and the program director to plan how to finish them. Applicants need a current, unencumbered Washington state RN license or eligibility for licensure when the program starts, junior standing (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours), a direct transferable associate degree or a bachelor's degree, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all college coursework. College of Nursing prerequisites cover anatomy and physiology with two labs, general chemistry with lab, microbiology with lab, statistics, human nutrition, introductory psychology and introductory sociology, alongside WSU's University Common Requirements; a nursing transfer degree (AN/DTA MRP) satisfies all prerequisite and UCORE requirements. The BSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
- 30 credits total
- Finish in one year
- Mostly online, one attendance day per semester
- Washington RN license required
- 3.0 cumulative GPA required
- 5th in Washington
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA · Public Online $4,205 annual in-state tuition 36% institutional graduation rate 35 degrees a year 65.5 scoreBellevue College runs its RN-to-BSN with classes offered both online and in person rather than as a fully online program, and lets students choose a full-time or part-time schedule.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about Bellevue College's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)Bellevue College's RN to BSN is a degree-completion program for nurses who already hold an associate nursing degree or a diploma from an accredited college or nursing program. The award is a Bachelor of Science. The college lists the program at 90-95 credits, taken in addition to 90 credits of relevant general education and program prerequisites, and directs applicants to the catalog page for the specific prerequisite requirements.
Coursework builds skills in evidence-based practice, community health, professional communication, and health information technology, and covers healthcare systems, policies, and leadership. Sample courses named on the page include Community and Public Health Nursing, Leadership in Healthcare, Health Information Technology, Management in Healthcare, and Foundations of Scholarly Inquiry. Classes are offered online and in person, and students may enroll full-time or part-time. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.
- 90-95 credits
- CCNE accredited
- Online and in-person classes
- Full-time or part-time schedules
- Associate nursing degree or diploma required
- 6th in Washington
Columbia Basin College
Pasco, WA · Public $5,875 annual in-state tuition 33% institutional graduation rate 26 degrees a year 62.2 scoreColumbia Basin selects RN-BSN cohorts using nursing grades, work experience and a video essay.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about Columbia Basin College's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)Columbia Basin starts RN-to-BSN cohorts in April and September and admits up to 40 students per year. Selection considers grades and RN experience. The application includes a three-minute nursing-philosophy presentation, giving you a specific opportunity to explain how your practice shapes your reasons for pursuing the bachelor's degree.
Applicants need an associate nursing degree, specified general education courses and Washington RN licensure by the relevant cohort deadline. Prerequisites do not expire, which matters if you completed your earlier nursing education years ago. Have your previous coursework reviewed against the required subjects, then work backward from the April or September entry deadline to plan the license documentation and presentation.
- April and September cohort starts
- Up to 40 students admitted yearly
- Grades and RN experience in selection
- Three-minute nursing-philosophy video
- Prerequisites have no expiration date
- 7th in Washington
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA · Private nonprofit $44,900 annual in-state tuition 52% institutional graduation rate 70 degrees a year 29 scoreSaint Martin’s RN-to-BSN curriculum combines 19 nursing-core credits with university coursework and a community-health clinical experience.Nursing accreditation on file: CCNE. DAPIP, . Learn more about Saint Martin's University's RN to BSN (opens the school's own site)Saint Martin's has a 19-credit nursing core, but that is not the entire amount of university study required. The degree totals 120 credits, with at least 30 completed at Saint Martin's and up to 90 accepted in transfer. You can apply for any semester and study full or part time, with the transfer evaluation determining the remaining plan.
NUR 411 includes 50 community-health clinical hours, followed by a capstone addressing a practice or policy problem. Plan those hours separately from classroom work when choosing a course load. Entry requires an unrestricted Washington RN license; qualifying provisional students must obtain it by the end of their first semester.
- 19-credit nursing core
- At least 30 credits at Saint Martin’s
- Full- or part-time enrollment
- 50-hour community-health clinical course
- Applications accepted for any semester
What It Costs in Dollars, and What It Costs in Shifts
In dollars the Washington spread is 10.7 to one, and one program creates almost all of it. The 6 public programs run $4,205 at Bellevue College to $11,869 at the University of Washington's Bothell and Tacoma campuses, which charge the same. Then Saint Martin's University at $44,900 — 3.8 times the dearest public option and 10.7 times the cheapest. There is nothing between $11,869 and $44,900, so this is not a scale you slide along. It is one choice with a very large step in it.
Now price the same list in shifts. At the state median of $59.71 an hour, a twelve-hour shift is about $717 gross — before tax, and before whatever your own differential and seniority do to it, so treat this as a unit of measure rather than your paycheque. On that measure Bellevue College costs about 6 shifts a year, the median program about 16, and Saint Martin's University about 63 — a difference of roughly 57 shifts a year between the two ends of the list. That is the honest frame for a Washington nurse: the tuition question and the scheduling question are the same question, denominated in the same thing.
Which is why the two figures that decide the real cost are not in this ranking, and you should get both before you compare prices. First: are the courses asynchronous, or are there live sessions at fixed times? "Online" does not answer that, and shifts do not move. Second: does the program require precepted clinical hours you have to arrange yourself, or does it substitute a community or workplace project? A program that sends you looking for your own preceptor while you are working three twelves is the most expensive program on this page whatever its tuition line says.
The published figures above are annual, not a total to finish. Most RN-to-BSN tracks run 30 or so upper-level credits, so what you actually pay turns on how much of your ADN transfers, whether general education you already completed counts, and how many terms you spread the credits across. Ask for a total-to-degree number in writing — per-credit pricing is how this field hides it — and ask how many start dates a year the program has, because two or three entry points is worth real money to someone fitting courses around a rota.
One note if you are not a Washington resident, which matters here because completion tracks draw applicants who never set foot in the state. The residency discount is not evenly spread: Columbia Basin College charges $7,883 to non-residents against $5,875 in state, while the University of Washington campuses go from $11,869 to $42,105. So the cheapest program in Washington for a resident, Bellevue College, is only the 2nd cheapest for everyone else, and the order of this list rearranges depending on which side of the line you are on. Check state authorisation too — an online program is not licensed to enroll students in every state.
What Washington RNs Earn, and Why It Is Not a BSN Number
BLS reports a median of $124,200 for Washington's 69,260 registered nurses — $59.71 an hour — with the distribution running from $89,630 at the 10th percentile to $161,910 at the 90th. Against a national median of $97,550, that is $26,650 higher and 4th of 51 states.
The more useful number is the floor. Washington's 10th percentile, $89,630, sits $9,300 above the national 25th percentile of $80,330. The state's pay level is broad rather than top-heavy — it is not a handful of high earners pulling an average up. Whatever produces it, it reaches nurses at the bottom of the distribution too, and they hold the same range of degrees everyone else does.
The caveat that governs every salary figure on this site applies with extra force in a high-wage state. BLS reports all registered nurses as one occupation and does not break pay out by degree. There is no federal number for what a Washington BSN earns against what a Washington ADN earns, and anyone quoting one has made it up. The $161,910 at the 90th percentile is not a BSN figure either; it reflects specialty, setting, shift differential, overtime and years on the unit at least as much as anything on a transcript. What the BSN is associated with is access — hospitals that prefer or require it for charge and management tracks, case management and public health roles, and admission to an MSN — not a raise in the job you hold today.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.