One of the best ways you can level up your career as a nurse is by getting a BSN degree. One of the fastest and most affordable ways to do that is to enroll in an RN to BSN degree program. These programs are shorter than a typical BSN degree program because they build on the nurse’s existing experience and training, saving you more money and time in your busy schedule.

Fastest Online RN to BSN Degree Options

As mentioned, RN to BSN degree programs are much shorter than traditional BSN degree programs, often only requiring a year or two of study. How long you actually spend in school depends on the program and how many transfer credits you have. That being said, here are the fastest RN to BSN programs in the state:

School	Degree Name	Length
Washington State University	Online RN to BSN	1 Year
University of Washington	Online RN to BSN	1 Year

Learn more about the Fastest RN to BSN Programs.

Do 6-month RN to BSN Programs Exist?

Yes, they do, but they’re somewhat rare, especially in Washington You can definitely expect to find RN to BSN programs under two years in Washington (as demonstrated above) but to be eligible for 6-month RN to BSN degree program, you’ll need to have a large number of transferable credits and you’ll need to locate a school that accepts them.

Affordable Online RN to BSN Options

Apart from the timeliness of an RN to BSN program, many students are particularly happy with the price. Because you will only be required to enroll for a period of one to two years for your BSN, this means that you will likely only be paying around half the cost compared to a traditional BSN program. Keep in mind that your cost may be more or less costly depending on your state residency status and the cost of living and textbooks in the area where you are enrolling. That being said, here are a few of the cheapest RN to BSN programs in Washington.

School

Degree Name

Tuition Cost

Olympic College

RN to BSN

$61.02 per credit (Resident)

$68.96 per credit per credit (Non-Resident)

Columbia College

Online RN to BSN

$24,806 per year

Learn more about the most Affordable RN to BSN Degrees.

Admissions Requirements for Accredited RN to BSN Programs

Across the state, nurses must be certain that when they apply to an accredited RN to BSN program they exactly meet the admissions criteria. While institutions do vary, we’ve compiled a list of the most common criteria that a nurse may encounter during the application process.

Have full admittance to your university
Be a graduate of a regionally accredited Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) program
Maintain an active and unencumbered RN license
Maintain a grade of ‘C’ or better in prerequisite courses
Submit a completed nursing application – either online or via mail
Have ready access to a computer and the internet
Submit a resume and three professional references

Classes & Courses: What is the Curriculum Like?

Accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Western Washington University has maintained its accreditation continuously since 1921. Nurses who enter the RN to BSN program at WWU can expect to find a hybrid program with online and on-campus courses that resemble the following:

NURS 432 Community-Based Care for Vulnerable Populations
NURS 433 Community-Based Care Practice Experience
NURS 401 Transitions into Professional Nursing Practice

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