Nursing Schools in Washington (2026)
51 accredited nursing programs found
Washington has 51 nursing-relevant schools in this directory, with a heavily public-tilted split of 37 public and 14 private institutions. Average in-state tuition is $12,913, with public schools averaging $5,693 and private schools averaging $39,626. The 25th-to-75th-percentile tuition band runs from $4,632 to $9,286 — among the narrowest tuition ranges of any state with substantial nursing programs, reflecting the dominance of the Washington community-college and state-university system. The cheapest tracked program is Northwest Indian College at $3,969 per year, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment is the University of Washington-Seattle Campus at approximately 31,588.
Across Washington programs the average graduation rate is 45.3 percent and the average retention rate is 71.4 percent. Median post-graduation earnings average $48,006 and median federal debt at graduation averages $14,930. The state's healthcare employer base is anchored by UW Medicine, Providence, and MultiCare, producing a deep employment market for newly licensed RNs in the Seattle-Tacoma corridor and a smaller but stable rural-hospital network east of the Cascades.
Registered Nurse Market in Washington
BLS wage and employment data for registered nurses
Registered Nurse Salary in Washington
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
Matches the Washington average of $12,913.
Matches the Washington average of 45.3%.
Matches the Washington median of $48,006.
Tuition Overview
| Avg Public Tuition | $5,693 |
| Lowest Tuition | $3,969 |
| Highest Tuition | $54,285 |
| Avg Private Tuition | $39,626 |
Student Outcomes
| Avg Graduation Rate | 45.3% |
| Avg Earnings After Grad | $50,928 |
| Avg Student Debt | $14,930 |
| Total Enrollment | 194,267 |
All Nursing Schools in Washington
| Institution | City | Type | Tuition (In-State) | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle | Public | $12,643 | 31,588 |
| Washington State University | Pullman | Public | $12,997 | 21,583 |
| Western Washington University | Bellingham | Public | $9,286 | 13,574 |
| Central Washington University | Ellensburg | Public | $9,192 | 8,081 |
| Bellevue College | Bellevue | Public | $4,305 | 6,901 |
| Eastern Washington University | Cheney | Public | $8,353 | 6,517 |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane | Private | $53,500 | 5,098 |
| Clark College | Vancouver | Public | $4,632 | 4,699 |
| Green River College | Auburn | Public | $4,580 | 4,573 |
| Pierce College District | Lakewood | Public | $4,686 | 4,487 |
| Everett Community College | Everett | Public | $4,301 | 4,378 |
| Tacoma Community College | Tacoma | Public | $4,920 | 4,248 |
| Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Public | $6,194 | 4,226 |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private | $54,285 | 4,117 |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane | Public | $4,057 | 4,114 |
| Seattle Central College | Seattle | Public | $4,865 | 3,879 |
| Highline College | Des Moines | Public | $4,623 | 3,487 |
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Public | $4,669 | 3,354 |
| Olympic College | Bremerton | Public | $4,197 | 3,263 |
| Shoreline Community College | Shoreline | Public | $4,388 | 3,109 |
| Spokane Falls Community College | Spokane | Public | $4,058 | 2,881 |
| North Seattle College | Seattle | Public | $5,058 | 2,792 |
| South Puget Sound Community College | Olympia | Public | $5,103 | 2,692 |
| Skagit Valley College | Mount Vernon | Public | $5,620 | 2,581 |
| Yakima Valley College | Yakima | Public | $5,163 | 2,539 |
| Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood | Public | $6,634 | 2,417 |
| Walla Walla Community College | Walla Walla | Public | $6,513 | 2,372 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Private | $50,964 | 2,350 |
| Whatcom Community College | Bellingham | Public | $5,146 | 2,280 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Kirkland | Public | $5,156 | 2,179 |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private | $38,814 | 2,073 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane | Private | $50,920 | 1,927 |
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee | Public | $5,118 | 1,762 |
| Lower Columbia College | Longview | Public | $4,346 | 1,743 |
| Bates Technical College | Tacoma | Public | $5,569 | 1,613 |
| Renton Technical College | Renton | Public | $6,723 | 1,539 |
| Bellingham Technical College | Bellingham | Public | $4,226 | 1,523 |
| Centralia College | Centralia | Public | $5,109 | 1,476 |
| Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake | Public | $4,909 | 1,281 |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Private | $44,210 | 1,254 |
| Walla Walla University | College Place | Private | $33,027 | 1,214 |
| Peninsula College | Port Angeles | Public | $4,586 | 1,139 |
| City University of Seattle | Seattle | Private | $14,589 | 1,091 |
| Grays Harbor College | Aberdeen | Public | $4,751 | 1,058 |
| Perry Technical Institute | Yakima | Private | N/A | 973 |
| Heritage University | Toppenish | Private | $19,920 | 782 |
| Northwest Indian College | Bellingham | Public | $3,969 | 677 |
| Northwest University | Kirkland | Private | $36,035 | 642 |
| Bastyr University | Kenmore | Private | N/A | 58 |
| Elite Cosmetology Barber & Spa Academy | Yakima | For-Profit | N/A | 55 |
| Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology | Kennewick | For-Profit | N/A | 28 |
Nursing Schools by City in Washington
Nursing Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Washington?
What is the average nursing school tuition in Washington?
What is the average graduation rate for nursing schools in Washington?
What is the average retention rate in Washington?
What do graduates from nursing schools in Washington earn?
What is the average student debt at nursing schools in Washington?
How much do registered nurses earn in Washington?
What is the RN job outlook for Washington?
Washington Nursing Market Context
BLS data for Washington shows an RN median annual wage of $104,490 and a mean of $107,540 — among the highest in the country. The 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $75,010 to $141,210. Statewide RN employment is approximately 66,520 and the projected growth rate is 7 percent — above the national 6 percent figure.
Median program debt of $14,930 against a $104,490 RN median wage produces an exceptionally favorable payback profile: low debt by national standards combined with one of the higher RN median wages. The 10th-percentile figure of $75,010 substantially exceeds the national RN median, meaning even early-career Washington nurses earn well above the typical national figure. The 90th-percentile figure of $141,210 reflects what experienced and certified Washington RNs reach, particularly in Seattle-area academic medical centers. Cost of living in the Puget Sound region absorbs a meaningful share of the wage advantage compared with eastern Washington and lower-cost states.