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Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

207 Colleges
$6,560 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$85,206 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 26,717 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 207 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top 25 Best Far Western US Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Nursing

Our 2023 rankings named Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health the best value school in the Far Western US Region for nursing students. L.A. County School of Nursing is a fairly small public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at L.A. County School of Nursing take out is $19,688.

Read full report on Nursing at Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health

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#2

Seattle Central College

Seattle, WA
$4,670 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Seattle Central College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Seattle Central is a small public school located in the city of Seattle.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Seattle Central are $4,670 per year. Nursing majors at Seattle Central take out an average of $21,512 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Seattle Central College Report

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#3

Highline College

Des Moines, WA
$4,813 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 207 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Highline College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Des Moines, Highline is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Highline are $4,813 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Highline take out $15,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Highline College Report

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#4

United States University

San Diego, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend United States University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. USU is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Diego.

USU undergraduate students pay an average of $5,700 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Nursing at United States University

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#5

Centralia College

Centralia, WA
$5,239 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Centralia College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Centralia College is a small public school located in the distant town of Centralia.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Centralia College are $5,239 per year.

Read full report on Nursing at Centralia College

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#6

Wenatchee Valley College

Wenatchee, WA
$4,734 Average Tuition & Fees

Wenatchee Valley College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the city of Wenatchee, WVC is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WVC are $4,734 per year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at WVC accumulate an average of around $16,204 in student debt.

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#7

Merced College

Merced, CA

Merced College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the city of Merced, Merced Community College District is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Merced Community College District are $7,444 per year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Merced Community College District carry an average student debtload of $11,000.

Merced Community College District also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

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#8

Umpqua Community College

Roseburg, OR
$5,945 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Umpqua Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the rural area of Roseburg, Umpqua Community College is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Umpqua Community College are $5,945 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Umpqua Community College take out $20,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Umpqua Community College Report

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#9

Yakima Valley College

Yakima, WA
$5,352 Average Tuition & Fees

Yakima Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the city of Yakima, YVC is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at YVC are $5,352 per year. On average, nursing graduates from YVC take out $14,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Yakima Valley College

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#10

Lower Columbia College

Longview, WA
$5,403 Average Tuition & Fees

Lower Columbia College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. LCC is a small public school located in the city of Longview.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LCC are $5,403 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at LCC take out is $18,750.

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$5,135 Average Tuition & Fees

Spokane Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane.

Spokane Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,135 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at Spokane Community College take out an average of $23,370 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#12

Butte College

Oroville, CA

Butte College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Butte College are $7,848 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Butte College accumulate an average of around $16,161 in student debt.

Butte College also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Nursing at Butte College

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#13

Yuba College

Marysville, CA

Yuba College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Yuba College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Yuba College are $7,488 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Yuba College take out is $10,000.

Full Nursing at Yuba College Report

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#14

Ventura College

Ventura, CA
$7,398 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #14, Ventura College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Ventura College is a large public school located in the midsize city of Ventura.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ventura College are $7,398 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Ventura College accumulate an average of around $16,953 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Ventura College Report

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#15

Modesto Junior College

Modesto, CA

Modesto Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. MJC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Modesto.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MJC are $8,550 per year.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, MJC also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Nursing at Modesto Junior College Report

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#16

Big Bend Community College

Moses Lake, WA
$5,098 Average Tuition & Fees

Big Bend Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Big Bend Community College is a small public school located in the town of Moses Lake.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Big Bend Community College are $5,098 a year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Big Bend Community College carry an average student debtload of $18,674.

Full Nursing at Big Bend Community College Report

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#17

Glendale Community College

Glendale, CA
$7,531 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #17, Glendale Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the midsize city of Glendale, GCC is a public college with a large student population.

GCC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,531 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at GCC take out an average of $16,304 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Glendale Community College Report

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$6,483 Average Tuition & Fees

Southwestern Oregon Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. SWOCC is a small public school located in the town of Coos Bay.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SWOCC are $6,483 per year. On average, nursing graduates from SWOCC take out $19,524 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Southwestern Oregon Community College Report

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#19

Antelope Valley College

Lancaster, CA
$6,980 Average Tuition & Fees

Antelope Valley College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Antelope Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lancaster.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Antelope Valley College are $6,980 per year. Nursing majors at Antelope Valley College take out an average of $11,400 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at Antelope Valley College Report

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#20

Cabrillo College

Aptos, CA

Cabrillo College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Aptos.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cabrillo College are $8,630 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Cabrillo College take out is $14,500.

Cabrillo College also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Nursing at Cabrillo College

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#21

Rogue Community College

Grants Pass, OR
$6,192 Average Tuition & Fees

Rogue Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Rogue Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Grants Pass.

Rogue Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,192 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at Rogue Community College take out an average of $20,950 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at Rogue Community College

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#22

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA
$8,702 Average Tuition & Fees

Cuesta College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cuesta College are $8,702 per year.

Full Nursing at Cuesta College Report

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#22

Moorpark College

Moorpark, CA
$7,398 Average Tuition & Fees

Moorpark College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Moorpark College are $7,398 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Moorpark College take out $17,667 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Columbia Gorge Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Columbia Gorge Community College is a fairly small public school located in the remote town of The Dalles.

Columbia Gorge Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,468 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Columbia Gorge Community College take out is $28,731.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Columbia Gorge Community College also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

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#25

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, WA
$5,227 Average Tuition & Fees

Bellingham Technical College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute are $5,227 a year.

Read full report on Nursing at Bellingham Technical College

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Rest of the Top Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region

#26

Walla Walla Community College

Walla Walla, WA
#26

Shoreline Community College

Shoreline, WA
#28

San Joaquin Delta College

Stockton, CA
#29

Gavilan College

Gilroy, CA
#30

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA
#31

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, CA

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great value schools for Nursing students in the Far Western US Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region award.

Rank College Location
32 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
33 Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA
34 Imperial Valley College Imperial, CA
35 Mendocino College Ukiah, CA
36 Oregon Coast Community College Newport, OR
37 Peninsula College Port Angeles, WA
38 Linfield University - Online and Continuing Education McMinnville, OR
39 College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA
40 Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA
41 Columbia Basin College Pasco, WA

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 3,851
California 18,329
Nevada 2,015
Alaska 177
Hawaii 535
Oregon 1,502

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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