Master of Nursing
Upcoming Graduate Events
Application Deadlines
Post-Licensure
Master of Nursing Program
Applications Open: August 15
Fall 2026 Application Deadline Extended: March 15
Application review begins February 15
Why earn a Masters of Nursing at WSU?
–Magdalena Stark, CougNurse ‘23
“As a WSU alumna, this was a natural choice for my graduate degree. I appreciated the support my professors provided me throughout my entire time as a graduate student. I enjoyed the convenience of a mostly online schedule as well as making some great friendships with fellow classmates.”
–Jill Andrews-Prior, CougNurse ‘24
Admission Requirements
Education Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree
- Minimum BSN GPA of 3.0
- Official transcripts from all previous college work.
- If your previous institution is ungraded, or uses a grading scale atypical of a 0-4.0 GPA range, please reach out to the campus advisor where you wish to apply. They can provide you more specific and individual information about applying with your educational history.
Practice & Professional Requirements
Previous nursing practice experience preferred.
- All MN and DNP students must hold a current, unencumbered RN license in the catchment area of their campus. That includes Washington (all campuses), Idaho (Spokane campus), and/or Oregon (Vancouver campus). Multistate RN licenses will meet this requirement, provided that Washington is included in that agreement. Students are encouraged to obtain RN licensure in Washington State to ensure timely access to clinical placement opportunities, particularly for those living near the state border. For non-resident students, we will seek clinical placements in your home state first; however, if appropriate placements cannot be secured, you will be required to obtain a Washington State RN license. Failure or refusal to do so may result in delays in program progression if no suitable clinical placement is available.
- Please note: you will need to be licensed in one of these states before the start of your first semester.
- Every effort is made to place you in a location which is convenient to you with a schedule that works with your current schedule; however, travel and adjustments to your schedule are often necessary.
International Students
International students are eligible to apply if they obtain a current, unencumbered RN license in the catchment area of their campus by the beginning of their first semester at WSU. That catchment area includes Washington (all campuses), Idaho (Spokane campus), and/or Oregon (Vancouver campus). Compact/MSL licenses are acceptable provided they are multi-state with Washington (and Oregon or Idaho if residing near a state border).
International students are strongly encouraged to have working experience in the field of nursing in the US. International applicants must meet the Application Requirements for International Students.
Nurse Educator Specialization
The Nurse Educator track within the Master of Nursing program is designed to address the critical need for qualified nurse educators who can lead, teach, develop courses and curricula, and inspire future generations of nurses. This program will equip you with advanced competencies in education and leadership, which are essential for effective instruction and mentorship in both academic and clinical settings. Students are required to complete practice experiences embedded in the curriculum that allow them to apply best practice learning techniques, as well as lead educational change initiatives.
Required Coursework
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS_ADV 504 | Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 510 | Leadership in Systems and Organizations | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 512 | Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology | 4 |
| NURS_ADV 565 | Information Management for Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 584 | Health Care Law, Policy, and Analysis | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 523 | Nursing Education: Curriculum Design | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 521 | Nursing Education: Assessment & Evaluation | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 533 | Nursing Education: Teaching & Learning | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 585 | Nursing Education: Faculty Role Practicum | 2 |
| NURS_ADV 586 | Nursing Education: Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
Clinical Systems Leadership Specialization
The Systems Leadership track of the Master of Nursing program prepares nurses for advanced roles in leading at the system level of healthcare. Key features of this track include developing competency in the utilization of national quality metrics to improve healthcare outcomes, developing quality improvement initiatives, and administering healthcare operational plans. Students complete practice experiences embedded throughout the curriculum and a capstone project to demonstrate mastery of essential competencies. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in healthcare settings, complex systems, and community organizations.
Required Coursework
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS_ADV 504 | Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 510 | Leadership in Systems and Organizations | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 512 | Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology | 4 |
| NURS_ADV 565 | Information Management for Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 584 | Health Care Law, Policy, and Analysis | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 524 | Managing in Complex Systems | 4 |
| NURS_ADV 525 | Healthcare Operational Planning and Management | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 526 | Quality Improvement & Culture of Safety | 3 |
| NURS_ADV 527 | Systems Leadership Practicum | 2 |
| NURS_ADV 701 | Systems Leadership Capstone | 2 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
Program Outcomes
- Design change initiatives centered on collaboration and organizational gap analysis to promote continuous quality improvement in complex academic or healthcare systems.
- Demonstrate leadership traits that nurture personal and workforce development and optimize interprofessional teams across academia or the healthcare continuum.
- Incorporate innovative technology and data informed analysis that support the evaluation of strategic outcomes and ensures the delivery of safe and effective care or education.
- Promote public health policy through engagement and collaboration with community, industry, and governmental stakeholders.
- Employ evidence-based/informed academic or care delivery models that coordinate person-centered strategies to diverse populations across varied complex systems.
- Demonstrate an ability to synthesize and apply nursing knowledge at an advanced level and scope of practice within academic or care settings to enhance and transform patient and population healthcare outcomes.
Program Requirements
Technical Standards
Nursing education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of skills and professional attitudes and behaviors.
Graduate Clinical Passport Requirements
The College of Nursing calls the combination of proof of licensure, immunizations, required trainings (e.g. CPNW Modules), and certifications (e.g., CPR) the “Clinical Passport.”
Course Plans
Select a plan below based on the program you’re interested in to see an example of how the program might look for you.
| Program | Cohort Start Year |
|---|---|
| Nurse Educator (NE) 4-Semester Plan | 2026 |
| Nurse Educator (NE) 7-Semester Plan | 2026 |
| Clinical Systems Leadership (CSL) 4-Semester Plan | 2026 |
| Clinical Systems Leadership (CSL) 7-Semester Plan | 2026 |
Paying for the Program
What does it cost to attend the program?
Visit the WSU Student Financial Services website for information on tuition and expenses at the program and campus level.
How much does it cost to apply?
- Nursing CAS itself will cost approximately $80.
- WSU Graduate School application fee $10.
- Official transcripts from everywhere you have attended will be required as well.
What support can I get with financial aid?
Please see our Financial Aid page for information on scholarships.
What is the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) as it relates to WSU?
The PhD program is part of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) which allows students living in a 16-state region to utilize in-state tuition. There are some criteria to be aware of for utilizing the WRGP:
- The College of Nursing credit requirement for the WRGP is 9+ for Spring and Fall semesters and 5+ credits for summer.
- The College of Nursing automatically enrolls qualifying students in WRGP.
| Item | Amount* | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AY 25-26 Tuition | Residents: $887.60 per credit for residents. 10-18 credits per semester costs $8876. | ||||||||
| Non-residents and $1661.20 per credit. 10-18 credits per semester costs $16,612. | |||||||||
| The MN program is approximately 30 credits. Students take varying credits per semester depending on their progression plan choice. Plan to work with an academic advisor to determine how many courses you take each semester for either specialty track choice. | |||||||||
| Campus & Student Fees | Please note that individual campuses may have additional annual campus or student fees on top of the base tuition amount. Those are:
| ||||||||
| Course and Program Fees | Costs vary per semester and are tied to specific courses - details for each of these fees are shown when students go to enroll into the courses. We recommend to set aside approximately $400 over the course of your degree. | ||||||||
| *Please note costs listed on this page are estimates for budgeting purposes only. This is not a bill. For additional budgeting information, refer to the Financial Services figures. Washington State University reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice, upon approval by the State of Washington and Washington State University Board of Regents and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at WSU at the time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition and mandatory fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. | |||||||||
Scholarships & Loan programs
- College of Nursing Scholarships
- Western Regional Graduate Program
- Nurse Faculty Loan Program
- WSU Scholarships
- Financial Aid
AACN Fee Waivers
AACN offers fee waivers to qualifying students applying for nursing programs through NursingCAS. These fee waivers have very specific qualification requirements, some of which include:
- The applicant can only qualify based on either income or service.
- The applicant is only able to apply for one fee waiver per application cycle.
- The waiver counts only for the applicant’s first application, if the applicant completes applications for additional schools and/or programs, they must pay the fees associated with those applications.
- The fee waiver form must be completed before the application is fully submitted.
- The fee waiver form can take up to 10 days to process, so the applicant must keep this timeframe in mind when applying. The application may not be fully submitted until a fee waiver decision has been made. If the decision falls outside the application deadline, the applicant will not be able to submit their application.
- If the waiver is approved, the application must be submitted within 30 days of approval or the waiver will be void.
For more information, including additional qualification requirements and how to apply,
please visit the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center Fees and Fee Waiver page.
Personal budgeting
- Computer Needs
If you do not already have a computer, one option is this agreement between WSU and Dell. WSU Nursing IT recommends a Windows computer to ensure familiarity at clinical sites and general compatibility. Review technical requirements. - Student Organizations
Optional association with student organizations may have small fees or charges attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I complete my practicum?
Practicum hours must be completed in the catchment area of the campus of registration. That includes Washington (all campuses), Idaho (Spokane campus), and/or Oregon (Vancouver campus). WSU has clinical placement coordinators who place students for direct-care practicum experiences. MN students must establish their own sites and preceptors for non-direct care practicum experiences. This gives students the opportunity to maximize their networking skills and existing professional connections.
What kind of clinical placements are available?
Our Masters program provides an opportunity to advance 3P (patho, pharm, physical assessment) nursing knowledge beyond the baccalaureate level. Students will have direct-care clinical experience in an area such as diabetes educator, wound care, palliative care, hospice care, community-based program, mobile clinic, patient/family education. This list is not exhaustive The placements vary by year and availability. Students will also have non-direct practicum hours.
How are classes delivered?
Courses in the MN program include a mixture of online, hybrid-based learning for didactic courses, and in-person practice experiences for any practicum courses in the specialty you choose. There are no requirements to be in-person, on-campus for learning experiences.
Program Advisors
The Washington State University College of Nursing BSN, MN and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K. Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
