Best RN Programs in Washington for 2024

At Pierce College, students interact with the faculty and staff in the teaching and learning process so that they are empowered to build upon the assimilation of nursing knowledge, scholarships, and skills that lead to the provision of competent and compassionate nursing care. 

The college aims to promote excellence in registered nursing practice that focuses on diversity, intercultural, and holistic aspects of care. By the end of the courses, nursing students are made competent on patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, patient safety, and informatics. With theory classes taught by excellent faculty, clinical simulations in state-of-the-art laboratories, and clinical rotations in multiple health facilities across the region, nursing students garner all the skills that are required to become successful general care providers. 

Along with highly affordable classes, Pierce college also provides multiple financial aids to assist students to achieve quality education. Students can also seamlessly transfer to multiple other universities in the state if they wish to complete their BSN degree.

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program and the LPN-RN program both allow students to obtain their RN license and practice as skilled healthcare delivery personnel. The courses expertly integrate general nursing courses with other key skills such as statistics, psychology, and languages so that students are well versed with all the well-versed including research and diversity.

At Bellingham Technical College, nursing students learn high-demand skills needed for a successful and rewarding career in the challenging, highly technical, and rapidly advancing world of healthcare and wellness. 

Nursing graduates from Bellingham Technical College have found employment in a number of areas such as hospitals, clinics, wellness centers, and more. By the time they graduate, the students are apt in nursing care, self-care promotion, professionalism, collaborative leadership, and clinical judgment, all of which are the core values of the nursing profession. The college also has excellent NCLEX pass rates and job placement rates, in addition to a long list of satisfied employers. 

Undergraduate Programs: Bellingham Technical College has a highly sought-after Associate Degree DTA/MRP. This two-year full-time course is designed for students who are completely new to the nursing field and want to earn their RN license and practice as entry-level generalist nurses. There is also an LPN-RN option which is a part-time option for working LPNs who want to earn their RN degree.

Similarly, the Practical Nursing Certificate is a part-time pathway designed for students who want to become Licensed Practical Nurses.

Tacoma Community College proudly introduces its graduates who are competent, skilled nurses that excel in all areas of healthcare services. Students are prepared to pass their NCLEX and get employed as generalists RNs in a variety of healthcare facilities. The college boasts the highest numbers in the state in terms of NCLEX pass rates, program completion rates, employment rates, and employer satisfaction rates. 

Nursing students at Tacoma Community College benefit from the state-of-the-art simulation labs that create real-life scenarios in a hospital-like environment where students can practice their nursing skills as well as communication skills and teamwork. Graduates function ethically and legally within the standards and competencies of local, state, and national regulatory agencies and professional organizations. Owing to clinical practice at multiple healthcare facilities and instruction by skilled faculty, the students are able to apply strong critical thinking and clinical judgment skills, using evidence-based practice to make clinical decisions. 

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate Degree in Nursing and LPN to RN Bridge program both prepare students to become highly skilled registered nurses. The ADN degree is ideal for those who work less than 20 hours per week as it is a full-time course that takes three years to complete. In addition, students can complete one more full-time year at a four-year college to earn a BSN degree after completing their ADN degree.

Through its rigorous and detailed curriculum, Skagit Valley College prepares students for a lifelong career in nursing practice. Skagit Valley College has one of the best nursing programs in the entire state, and its high NCLEX pass rates and the graduate employment rates are testimonials to the quality education provided here. 

Skagit Valley College teaches its students valuable nursing skills such as strong communication skills, excellent problem-solving abilities, focused concentration, attention to detail, teamwork, and expertise in life sciences. The college campus houses a high-fidelity simulation lab that provides the students with a hospital-like environment where they can practice their nursing skills and teamwork. Students also learn via clinical rotations in various long-term, acute, and community healthcare facilities in the region. Graduates of the program are employed in a variety of settings like hospitals, extended care centers, home healthcare agencies, physician’s offices, mental health facilities, and other healthcare settings.

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP program prepares students for their NCLEX-RN examination and a career as a registered nurse, as well as an entry into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion degree.

Similarly, the AAS (Registered Nursing) course prepares students for a lifelong career in nursing practice. Graduates of this program have been working as Registered Nurses, Critical Care Nurses, Acute Care Nurses, and more.

Located in Bellingham, WA, Whatcom Community College has one of the best nursing programs in the entire state. Owing to the rigorous full-time classes and other skill-building activities, it is no surprise that the NCLEX pass rates of Whatcom Community College are higher than the national average.

The students here learn in daytime lecture and lab classes as well as both daytime and evening clinical rotations. By the end of the coursework, students canare able to perform competent nursing care, employ professionalism, use sound clinical judgment, collaborate with the healthcare team and practice safety. Whatcom Community College prepares its students to become competent leaders who can bring about a positive change in the nursing profession and enhance the health of the community. 

The classes here are very demanding, including and students are advised to limit their other obligations as they’ll need to put in a minimum of 20 hours per week for assignments, on top of the full-time classes. 

In addition to that, the college is famously affordable and also offers multiple financial aid opportunities, including FAFSA, Veterans Services, The WashBoard scholarships, Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, and so on. 

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate in Nursing program allows students to take their NCLEX-RN examination upon completion. The RNs are then able to complete their BSN in one academic year at any accepting university in Washington state.

Nursing students at Olympic College undergo rigorous training and instruction to become qualified professionals who can deliver quality nursing care. The college fosters an interactive environment that encourages growth and maximizes the potential of each individual student so that they can achieve high academic and ethical standards. 

The highly skilled instructors help students develop a reflective and caring personality along with professional behavior and commitment to lifelong learning. The students are challenged to become responsible decision-makers and be accountable for the consequences of their actions via multiple simulations in the simulation labs as well as in clinical rotations. Nursing graduates of Olympic College have been employed in a number of healthcare settings such as home health care, hospitals, community-based healthcare facilities, long-term care, and more. Graduates have also claimed that the college prepared them to become better speakers and advocate for their patients’ rights. 

Undergraduate Programs: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Olympic college prepares graduates to provide safe, evidence-based care to a diverse population. The program is available via two pathways; the Veterans and Licensed Practical Nurse to BSN (VL-BSN) pathway and the Nursing (RN-BSN) pathway. These programs offer flexibility for the working nurses with one, two, or three-year plans to complete the degree.

In addition to this, the college also provides a 13 credits Nursing Assistant program and 75.5 - 84.5 credits Practical Nursing programs.

Bellevue College is located in Bellevue, Washington.  Their program consists of a Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) Training Program, an ADN program and an RN to BSN program.  They also offer an RN refresher program, which is available for students who have been out of the workforce and need to brush up on their nursing skills.

Nursing students at Bellevue College are prepared for life-long learning via a high-quality, flexible, and accessible education. The nursing program aims to be responsive to the changing needs of the community and is representative of the diverse demographics of the college. 

One of the most remarkable programs that the nursing students at Bellevue College are a part of is the international partnership with a hospital in Ghana. As a part of this program, students get the opportunity to apply the nursing process that they have learned in the context of diversity, global health, sustainability, and global citizenship and service in Ghana. Similarly, second-year ADN students also have the opportunity to integrate this service-learning project as a part of their clinical learning outcomes related to leadership, community health, and pediatric assessment for the course transition to Nursing Practice and Pediatric Nursing. 

Other opportunities provided by Bellevue College include a state-of-the-art, eight-bed, mock-up hospital space simulation center that is well equipped to mimic a real hospital floor. In addition to this, the college also provides opportunities for internationally educated nurses to take the courses needed to become licensed in the state of Washington.

Undergraduate Programs: The college offers an Associate Degree in Nursing program that prepares them to begin a career as Registered Nurses. Similarly, for students already working as RNs, the RN to BSN program helps them enhance their skills and leadership to become managers of care, researchers, and nurse leaders. 

In addition to these programs, the college also provides regular CNE classes and workshops on a variety of topics such as CPR, IV skills, Venipuncture, etc. For RNs who are not actively practicing, the college offers an RN refresher program. Similarly, internationally educated nurses in the college can also take the courses they need to become licensed.

There is also a Nursing Assistant Certified course that provides necessary knowledge and skills to students in order for them to provide daily care to adult residents, patients, and clients unable to care for themselves.

At Peninsula College, the nursing students are prepared for a nursing degree with a solid social sciences foundation and focused attention to detail for a rewarding and challenging career. Being one of the best nursing colleges in the entire state, the past NCLEX pass records and high graduate placement rate speaks of the quality education provided at this college. 

Upon the completion of their studies at Peninsula College, the students are able to demonstrate holistic caring behavior towards the client, their family, peers, and other members of the healthcare team. The graduates are also apt at providing appropriate health teachings to patients and their families. Owing to the clinical rotations at multiple facilities, the students are able to provide accurate and safe nursing care in diverse settings. 

To encourage students to take healthcare as a profession and help them fund their studies, Peninsula College provides a guaranteed $1000 PC Foundation scholarship for newly enrolled students in nursing. This scholarship comes in addition to a plethora of other financial aid options as well.  

Undergraduate Programs: Peninsula College offers an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program that prepares them to function exceptionally in the role of a novice registered nurse. Graduate RNs have been practicing within the ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks of nursing and standards of the scope of nursing practice. 

Graduates of the ADN degree at Peninsula College can also transfer to most Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN) programs in Washington state with senior standing.

Nursing graduates of Wenatchee Valley College are apt in technological advances while demonstrating the value of human caring. They provide teachings related to health promotion and encourage people to do the same. 

Nursing students at Wenatchee Valley College get a chance to practice in hands-on clinical environments in a variety of healthcare settings. Similarly, practical sessions in the community provide the students with healthcare experience, which allows them to practice critical thinking, effective decision making, and holistic healthcare delivery skills. Students enjoy the benefits of individualized mentoring and instruction in small class sizes led by highly skilled faculty members and instructors. Patient-centered care, Nursing process, Collaboration, Communication, and Professionalism are the core values upon which the nursing graduates of Wenatchee Valley College act upon and base their nursing careers in.

The tuition rates at Wenatchee Valley College are about half the cost per quarter of four-year state universities. The college is also committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all students and employees. Similarly, students get to build their teamwork and leadership skills in the multiple extracurricular activities available in the college.

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate Degree Nursing program at Wenatchee Valley College prepares highly educated, technically advanced, competent, and caring graduates who can lead a successful nursing career upon passing their NCLEX-RN examination.

Similarly, the RN to BSN program allows RNs with an ADN degree to complete their bachelors’ degree within a year. This program comprises 80% online and 20% face-to-face instruction.

Walla Walla Community College has been producing satisfied graduates who have excelled both in the NCLEX and at their workplaces. 

Walla Walla Community College nursing graduates have been very happy with their college experience and the education they received here. Similarly, more than 90% of the graduates have found employment within 6-12 months after graduation. This doesn’t come as a surprise, seeing how employers are reported to be more than happy with the job performance of the graduates. 

The nursing program aims to uplift the lives of the students and the nursing profession in the communities that the graduates will serve in. The students are taught how to transform the lives of nursing students to fulfill the increasingly complex role of nurse generalists in the provision of safe, compassionate, culturally sensitive, evidence-based, ethically-grounded, and client-centered care. 

Undergraduate Programs: The Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP pathway prepares students to pass their NCLEX-RN examination and also acts as a transfer degree for direct transfer with only one additional year of study to complete the BSN (RN-BSN) course pathway. This degree provides a supportive, engaging, and progressive learning environment that fosters professional integrity, leadership, a spirit of inquiry and scholarship, collaborative practice, and a commitment to community service.

Yakima Valley Community College is located in Yakima, Washington.  Their program is a career ladder program; students who complete the first four semesters are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN, and then students who complete all six semesters can take the NCLEX-RN.  It is anticipated that in the near future, YVCC will have a Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) with one or more universities, which will allow students to quickly progress to earning their BSN degree.

Centralina College boasts very high 1st-time NCLEX pass rates, graduate employment rates, and program completion rates. This goes on to show how the college values well-defined educational and program goals relevant to the future success of the students.

At Centralia College, the highly skilled staff and faculty members highly value student success, quality education and services, equity and inclusion, diverse communities, and stewardship and sustainability. The nursing courses strive to prepare responsive educational and professional leaders who can bring a positive change in the nursing profession while delivering quality patient care. Along with highly affordable tuition rates, the college offers multiple learning resources and clinical rotations at some of the region’s best and most diverse healthcare facilities. The courses are rigorous; however, students benefit highly from the small classroom sizes and individualized instruction and mentorship.

Undergraduate Programs: The two-year-long Associate in Applied Science degree allows nurses to practice as RNs upon completion of their NCLEX examinations. The AAS degree is transferable, which means that students can also seamlessly transfer to selected four-year bachelor’s degree programs upon completion of the Associate in Applied Science-Transfer degree.

Another one of the leading nursing colleges in Washington, Columbia Basin College proudly boasts one of the highest first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates in the entire state. The graduates are quick to get employed in local healthcare facilities and are highly regarded in the community.

At Columbia Basin College, students learn in classrooms, state-of-the-art simulation labs, and clinical rotations. The labs provide the students with safe and controlled environments so as to allow them to make as many mistakes as needed before perfecting their clinical skills. 

The college boasts low average tuition, an impeccable student to faculty ratio of 23:1, and more than $18 million awarded in financial aids and scholarships every year. Columbia Basin College has also been named by the Aspen Institute as one of the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in 2023. This further goes on to show the superior quality of education and commitment to serving the community that this college exhibits.

Undergraduate Programs: Columbia Basin College offers an ADN degree that prepares students to take their NCLEX-RN and work as skilled nurses across all kinds of healthcare facilities. Graduate license holders are also eligible to apply to Columbia Basin College’s RN-BSN program to earn a BSN degree in as little as four quarters. The RN-BSN degree is delivered mostly via an online platform, so students are able to work while simultaneously earning their bachelors’ degree.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is located in Kirkland, Washington.  The program offers a practical nursing program and an RN program; the RN program gives the student an AAS-T degree upon completion, which allows the student the ability to easily transfer to a 4-year college in order to ear their BSN.  When space is available, the program accepts working LPNs, although there is currently not space available at this time.