Registered Nurses in Washington State have many options when it comes to pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. We have compiled a list for your convenience of colleges and universities offering MSN programs in Washington with national accreditation.


Gonzaga University Department of Nursing

Registered Nurses (RNs) attending Gonzaga University have multiple pathways through which to enter the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program. Gonzaga offers an accelerated RN to MSN pathway as well as a traditional MSN pathway.

The accelerated RN to MSN pathway is designed for Registered Nurses with a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing. Students in the program are required to complete 10 undergraduate “bridge” courses prior to progressing to the graduate MSN coursework. Those entering via this pathway can choose from the Health Systems Leadership and Nurse Educator specializations.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepared nurses entering the Master’s program directly can choose from the following roles and specializations:

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Health Systems Leadership
  • Nurse Educator

Those entering via the RN to MSN pathway must hold an Associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution or a nursing diploma from a state approved program. They must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students are required to submit satisfactory scores on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last five years. Candidates must present evidence of a current unencumbered RN license.

Applicants entering via the traditional MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. They must submit MAT or GRE scores. Students must hold current unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse.

Program Accreditations

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Program Contact Information

502 East Boone Avenue
AD Box 38
Spokane, WA 99258
(509) 313-6644

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Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing

Pacific Lutheran University’s School of Nursing offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer a Direct Entry pathway, an RN to MSN pathway, and a traditional BSN to MSN pathway.

The Direct Entry pathway is called their Entry-Level MSN program. It is designed to prepare students with a non-nursing Bachelor’s to gain licensure as a Registered Nurse. Students are awarded an MSN and prepared as a Care and Outcomes Manager (Advanced Generalist focus).

The RN to MSN pathway is designed for diploma and Associate’s prepared Registered Nurses who also hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. This program also leads to the MSN Care and Outcomes Manager specialization (Advanced Generalist focus).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing prepared RNs can choose from two roles and specializations:

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Care and Outcomes Manager (Concentrations available in Clinical Nurse Educator, Clinical Nurse Leader, Nurse Administrator, or Advanced Generalist).

They also offer an MSN/MBA dual degree program.

Those entering via the Entry-Level MSN pathway are required to hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must also have completed courses in Statistics, Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Developmental Psychology – Lifespan, and Microbiology with grades of “B” or better.

Students seeking entry via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold a Bachelor’s in a field other than nursing from a regionally accredited institution. They must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must have completed prerequisite courses in Situations with Communities as well as Statistics, Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Developmental Psychology – Lifespan, and Microbiology with grades of “B” or higher. Candidates must hold a current unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Washington.

Applicants to the BSN to MSN program must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must have completed a college level course in Statistics with a grade of “B” or higher. They must hold a current, unencumbered Washington State license to practice as an RN. Candidates should have direct care experience as an RN.

Program Accreditations

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Program Contact Information

12180 Park Avenue South
Ramstad, Room 214
Tacoma, WA 98447
(253) 535-7672

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Seattle Pacific University School of Health Sciences

Seattle Pacific University’s School of Health Sciences offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree via multiple pathways including an RN to MSN pathway and a BSN to MSN pathway.

MSN programs are available in several areas of specialty. Those specialties include the following:

  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Nurse Educator

Applicants to the program must hold an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related field. Diploma prepared nurses with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field might be required to complete additional work. They must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Candidates must hold an active, unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Washington State and have at least 18 months of clinical work experience as an RN (24 months experience required for those selecting the Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner specialty).

Program Accreditations

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Program Contact Information

3307 Third Avenue West, Suite 106
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 281-2608

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Seattle University School of Nursing

Seattle University’s School of Nursing offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer a Direct Entry pathway, an RN to MSN pathway, and a BSN to MSN pathway.

The Direct Entry pathway is designed for students who hold a non-nursing Bachelor’s degree with a desire to become a Registered Nurse. It is a full-time program of study where students are awarded both a BSN and an MSN degree.

Regardless of entry pathway, the following roles and specializations are offered:

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse-Midwifery
  • Advanced Community Public Health Nursing

Applicants entering via the Direct Entry pathway (Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion program) are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must submit acceptable GRE scores. Students must have completed a series of prerequisites courses before applying including Functions and Algebraic Methods, Introduction to Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Microbiology, Growth and Development, and Statistics.

Applicants entering via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold an Associate’s degree in nursing and a Bachelor’s degree in another discipline. Applicants entering the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a nationally accredited program. The remaining requirements apply to both the RN to MSN and BSN to MSN pathways. Students must have a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of Bachelor’s coursework. They must submit GRE scores taken within the last five years. Candidates must have completed an undergraduate Statistics course within the past five years with a grade of “C” or better. Students must hold a Washington State RN license. Two years of clinical experience as an RN is preferred.

Program Accreditations

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Program Contact Information

901 12th Avenue
PO Box 222000
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 296-5660

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University of Washington School of Nursing

The School of Nursing at the University of Washington offers two types of Master’s degrees in nursing. They offer a Master of Nursing (MN) degree and a Master of Science in Nursing degree.

The Master of Nursing program is offered in Community Health Nursing with concentrations available in Community and Public Health Systems for Children, Youth & Families, Cross-Cultural and Global Health, as well as Worker Wellbeing and Safety. The program typically takes between 4 and 7 quarters to complete. Part-time study is also available.

The Master of Science in Nursing program is offered in a single specialty area: Clinical Informatics and Patient-Centered Technologies. The program takes six quarters of full-time study to complete. It is also offered on a part-time basis.

Students entering the Master of Nursing program are required to hold either a) a Bachelor’s degree in nursing or b) a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing combined with a Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. Those without a Bachelor’s in nursing (RN to MN applicants) must submit Leadership and Community Health Nursing BSN equivalency essays. They must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the last 90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits. Students must have completed a course in Statistics with a grade of “C” or higher. Candidates must hold an active, unrestricted license in the state of Washington.

Those seeking entry into the Master of Science in Nursing program must hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for that last 90 graded quarter hours (or 60 semester hours). They are required to have successfully completed a course in Statistics with a “C” or higher grade. Students who plan to take clinical courses must hold an active, unrestricted Washington State RN license. Those not taking clinical courses need not be licensed as an RN.

Program Accreditations

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Program Contact Information

Health Sciences Building T-310, 1959 NE Pacific
Box 357260
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543-8736

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Washington State University College of Nursing

Washington State University’s College of Nursing offers a Master of Nursing degree. Students are offered several areas of specialization:

  • Advanced Population Health
  • Nursing Leadership
  • Nursing Education

Optionally, students can create an individualized study option made up of the core Master’s nursing coursework plus 3-4 courses in a specific area of interest.

Courses are delivered using a hybrid format combining in class and online. Part-time and full-time study options are available. Those attending full-time complete the program in about two years. Those attending part-time complete the program in three or four years.

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with at least a 3.0 GPA in the Bachelor’s program. Students must have completed an undergraduate course in Statistics. They must submit GRE scores taken within the last five years. Candidates must hold an unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Washington. They must also be certified in CPR.

Program Accreditations

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Program Contact Information

103 East Spokane Falls Boulevard
PO Box 1495
Spokane, WA 99210
(509) 324-7360

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