Application Deadlines
Fall Semester
Applications Open: August 15
Deadline: March 15
Application Requirements
- Applicants are required to have:
- a bachelor’s degree in nursing, OR
- a bachelor’s degree in another field AND a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- GRE is not required
- Successful completion of a general statistics course
- Favorable recommendations regarding practice and potential for graduate work in nursing
- Students must hold a current, unencumbered RN license in each state or United States territory where practice or clinical experiences occur.
- Written goal statement congruent with program’s philosophy and focus
- Completion of a written interview
- Minimum of 1 year of nursing practice preferred
Program Requirements
Required Coursework
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 553* | Practicum in Organizational Systems and Leadership | 3 |
| NURS 565 | Information Management for Clinical Practice | 3 |
| NURS 576 | Organizational Systems and Leadership | 3 |
| NURS 591 | Mixed Methods for Program Planning, Implementation and Outcome Evaluation | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
Please note that transfer courses will not count towards certificate completion
(i.e. if you transferred in a course that fulfills NURS 565, you will still have to take NURS 565 for the certificate)
Total Required Credits – 12
Program Outcomes
- Students will be able to recognize the need to address ethics, diversity & inclusiveness through community engagement.
- Students will be able to develop collaborative community relationships to address resource scarcity.
- Students will be able to apply change theory and data informatics systems to policy development and best practices.
- Students will develop a philosophy of leadership that guides the foundation for leadership skill applications across the health care systems.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to incorporate steps for strategic, long-term success in an ever-changing healthcare environment.
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. 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 Border Bill as it relates to WSU?
The State of Washington’s Border Bill is a program that allows Oregon residents who live in specified counties to attend WSU Vancouver and/or WSU Tri-Cities part-time (8 credits or less per semester) and pay resident tuition rates for the courses taken through these 2 WSU campuses ONLY. More information is below after the pricing table.
What is the WRGP program as it relates to WSU?
The DNP program is now 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: Students must be full time for DNP standards, taking at least 9 credits per Fall and Spring term (this does not apply to summer term – there is no out-of-state tuition charge for summer term). More information is below after the pricing table.
| Item | *Amount | Expense Occurs | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Service & Activities Fee included in tuition with slight campus variation) | Varies | Beginning of each semester | See tuition link for up-to-date details. Note that some campuses may have additional fees as well on top of tuition. |
| Books | Coming Soon | Throughout program | Coming Soon |
Course and Program Fees | Coming Soon | Throughout program | Coming Soon |
| Immunization and Onboarding requirements | $15: liability insurance $140: CastleBranch Account Varies: Immunizations | Required prior to first semester | Some immunizations are also required annually, and pricing will vary depending on individual health plan. |
| Health Fee (Spokane and Yakima students) | $100 | Beginning of each semester | Charged to students enrolled for seven or more credit hours in Fall and Spring, and 1 or more in Summer. Tri-Cities & Vancouver students are not charged this campus fee. |
| Personal budgeting | Computer needs | If you do not already have a computer, one option is this agreement between WSU and Dell. |
I live in Oregon. Am I eligible for in-state tuition, or do I have to pay non-resident rates?
There are two options for Oregon residents to qualify for in-state tuition while completing a graduate nursing program.
The Border Bill may be an option for Oregon residents in “bordering counties” attending either the Tri-Cities or Vancouver campuses. The state of Washington’s Border Bill allows Oregon residents who live in specified counties to attend WSU Vancouver and/or WSU Tri-Cities (8 credits or less per semester) and pay resident tuition rates for the courses taken through these two WSU campuses only. Please note that most graduate programs have semesters above the eight credit Border Bill limit, whereby a student will be required to pay out-of-state tuition for all credits in those semesters.
Full-time students enrolled in 9+ credits for Fall and Spring may inquire about the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). This program is only available to incoming graduate students and they are selected prior to starting the degree program.
For further information, we encourage you to contact a graduate advisor. Additional border bill information can be found below.
AACN Fee Waivers
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technology & Program Materials
What computer skills and technology are required?
- Microsoft Office – Word and PowerPoint
- Internet and email
- Canvas software (WSU will provide instruction)
- High-speed internet
Where do I get my books?
Order your books from WSU’s Official Campus Bookstore.
- Spokane & Yakima Students – select ‘Spokane’ Campus
- Tri-Cities & Walla Walla Students – select ‘Tri-Cities’ Campus
- Vancouver Students – select ‘Vancouver’ Campus
- All Students – select ‘WSU online‘ for non-nursing electives available online.
Will I need to wear a uniform for my clinical courses?
No. School uniforms are not required. You will need to wear appropriate attire when out in the community and interviewing for your course projects. Your course faculty can help you with that when you are in the community.
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.
