The Four-Year BSN Degree: What To Expect

A four-year BSN is the traditional, full-length route to becoming a registered nurse. You spend the first two years on prerequisite coursework and the final two on nursing theory, labs, and clinical rotations, finishing with about 120 credits and eligibility for the NCLEX-RN. It is the path most first-time college students take into nursing.

• Average Program Length: 4 years
• Average Credits Required: 120
• Average Earning Potential: $93,600 median (BLS, May 2024); about $99,000 average (Payscale)
• Format: Partial online offering, with required in-person clinical hours

Opportunities With a BSN

• Career mobility: Most administrative and supervisory positions require a BSN.
• Path to advancement: Opens the door to master's or doctoral programs, and the higher salaries that follow.
• Job range: Qualifies you for specialized roles beyond traditional floor nursing.
• Skills learned: Clinical and leadership skills, case management, community health, and nursing care of children and adults.

What To Expect From a Traditional BSN Program

Curriculum and timelines vary, but the University of Washington's (UW) BSN program shows the general shape of a four-year track. Students spend the first two years on prerequisite coursework and the final two immersed in nursing studies.

You start with prerequisites. UW's School of Nursing, for example, requires 90 quarter credit hours with a 2.0 cumulative GPA and at least a 2.0 in each course. Volunteering at a hospital or healthcare facility during these years strengthens your application.

Sample year one courses:

• English composition
• Mathematics: algebra with applications, precalculus, calculus with analytic geometry
• Nutrition
• Philosophy: practical reasoning or introduction to logic
• Principles of chemistry
• Statistical reasoning or elements of statistical methods
• Survey of physiology and elementary physiology lab
• Visual, literary, and performing arts classes

In your second year, you finish remaining prerequisites and prepare your application. Leave time to order transcripts, line up recommendation letters, and write personal statements. Some programs require an entrance exam (the HESI or the Test of Essential Academic Skills) and an interview, both of which take preparation.

Sample year two courses:

• Accelerated (honors) calculus
• Chemistry covering general, organic, and biochemistry
• Intermediate logic
• Introduction to probability and statistics
• General microbiology with lab
• Growth and development through the lifespan
• Literature and medicine
• Preparing for college writing

Once nursing school begins, the workload intensifies. Programs usually discourage employment during the final two years because of the full slate of coursework, labs, seminars, and practicum hours. The course lists below come from the UW School of Nursing.

Sample year three courses:

• Health assessments
• Healthcare systems and policy
• Health equity
• Foundational skills for professional nurses
• Foundations in pharmacotherapeutics and pathophysiology
• Fundamentals of nursing practice for illness care
• Introduction to research
• Population health through community health nursing partnerships

The fourth year typically runs classes at least three days a week, plus one 6-8-hour clinical day and heavy homework. Expect at least two hours of reading, writing, and studying for every credit hour. Start preparing for the NCLEX-RN at least six months before your test date.

Sample year four courses:

• Ambulatory care
• Care coordination and case management
• Child health
• Informatics, patient safety, and quality improvement
• Foundations of interprofessional practice
• Nursing care of childbearing families
• Psychosocial nursing in health and illness
• Transition to professional practice

Admission Requirements for a Traditional BSN Program

Requirements and timelines vary, but a program starting in the fall usually sets a January or February deadline. Assemble your materials early, especially if test scores are required. Common requirements include:

• Prerequisite coursework
• Online application
• Minimum 2.5 GPA (often higher for individual courses)
• High school transcripts (and college transcripts, if applicable)
• Test scores
• 2-3 letters of recommendation (professional or academic)
• A personal essay on your academic and career goals
• Volunteer or work experience (50-100 hours)
• Interview with the admissions department (in person, prerecorded, or virtual)
• Resume or CV
• Writing sample or short-essay responses

Traditional BSN vs. Bridge Programs

Bridge programs serve nurses who already hold RN or LPN licenses. They typically offer online and full-time or part-time options for working nurses, and they can streamline the path to a higher degree. An RN with an ADN, for example, can use an RN-to-MSN bridge to bypass a separate BSN, or earn a BSN in 18-24 months of full-time study through an RN-to-BSN program.

Traditional BSN vs. Accelerated BSN Programs

Accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs let applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor's degree transfer credits toward general education and prerequisites, finishing in one to two years. Many accept only candidates with a 3.0 GPA or higher, and the compressed format is rigorous. Other requirements mirror those of four-year programs. Some schools let ABSN students take classes online and complete clinicals near home.

Featured BSN Specialties

Beyond hospital RN work, BSN-holders move into geriatric, OBGYN, neonatal, and travel nursing.

Registered Nurse

RNs work in hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices, caring for patients and educating them and their families on treatment and health maintenance.

• Salary: $93,600
• Job Outlook: 5% growth from 2024-34

Geriatric Nurse

These nurses work with older adults, specializing in conditions like dementia and osteoporosis, and assist with daily living activities.

• Salary: $78,120
• Job Outlook: positive growth in coming years

OBGYN Nurse

Working alongside obstetricians and gynecologists, these nurses care for women through pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

• Salary: $75,800
• Job Outlook: 5% growth from 2024-34

Travel Nurse

Travel nurses take temporary contract assignments in offices, hospitals, and clinics, either self-employed or through agencies.

• Salary: $92,366
• Job Outlook: 5% growth from 2024-34

Neonatal Nurse

These nurses care for newborns in the NICU, treating premature infants and sick babies until they are strong enough to go home.

• Salary: $79,253
• Job Outlook: 5% growth from 2024-34

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Payscale

How Much Will I Make With a BSN?

• Average Hourly Pay: $38.32
• Average Salary: $99,000

Source: Payscale

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a four-year BSN take? A traditional BSN runs about four years of full-time study, roughly 120 credits, with the first two years on prerequisites and the last two on nursing coursework and clinicals.

What will I earn with a BSN? The median registered-nurse wage was $93,600 in May 2024 (BLS), and Payscale reports an average around $99,000 for BSN-prepared nurses.

What is the job outlook? RN employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 189,100 openings each year, according to the BLS.

Is a four-year BSN better than a bridge program? Both lead to the same RN license. The four-year track suits first-time college students; RN-to-BSN and accelerated bridges are faster routes for those with prior nursing or college credits.

Do I have to take the NCLEX after a BSN? Yes. A BSN qualifies you to sit the NCLEX-RN, which you must pass to earn RN licensure. Start preparing at least six months before your test date.