2023 Best Nursing Schools in Washington
With all the nursing programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
The Best Nursing Schools in Washington ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 41 schools in Washington to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
Top Nursing Schools in Washington
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Gonzaga University the best school in Washington for nursing students working on their degree.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,118 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $773 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Gonzaga graduates make an average of $51,213 annually.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Washington - Tacoma Campus is a great place for nursing students.
Degree recipients from UW Tacoma accumulate an average of $18,619 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $258.After graduating from UW Tacoma, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,004 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Washington - Bothell Campus. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Washington list.
On average, students take out $17,547 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $263 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UW Bothell, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $57,527 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Seattle University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Washington list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,543 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $708.After graduating from Seattle U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,066 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at University of Washington - Seattle Campus helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Washington.
On average, students take out $18,284 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $303, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UW Seattle graduates make an average of $57,782 annually.
With a ranking of #6, Washington State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $22,489 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $312 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Wazzu, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,774 during the early years of their career.
Seattle Pacific University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,778 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $394, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, SPU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,703 during the early year of their career.
Highline College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Washington list.
On average, students take out $14,827 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Highline graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,918 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #9, Pacific Lutheran University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,517 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $442 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from PLU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,047 during the early years of their career.
Saint Martin’s University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,178 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Saint Martin’s graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,383 during the early year of their career.
Centralia College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list.
Degree recipients from Centralia College accumulate an average of $12,250 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Centralia College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,843 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #12, Western Washington University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from WWU accumulate an average of $20,477 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $259. During the early years of their career, WWU graduates make an average of $36,481 annually.
Eastern Washington University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list.
Degree recipients from EWU accumulate an average of $23,697 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $165.After graduating from EWU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,008 during the early years of their career.
Heritage University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list.
On average, students take out $21,537 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Heritage University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,496 during the early years of their career.
Seattle Central College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list.
On average, students take out $14,549 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Seattle Central graduates make an average of $56,258 annually.
Whitworth University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Washington ranking.
On average, students take out $26,989 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $541 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Whitworth, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,444 during the early years of their career.
Bellevue College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $19,741 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, BC graduates make an average of $53,966 annually.
Walla Walla University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Washington list.
On average, students take out $24,985 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Walla Walla U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,752 during the early years of their career.
Northwest University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $23,101 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $240.After graduating from Northwest University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,507 during the early years of their career.
Shoreline Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list.
On average, students take out $18,550 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Shoreline Community College graduates make an average of $50,689 annually.
Everett Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Everett Community College accumulate an average of $16,056 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Everett Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,179 during the early years of their career.
Columbia Basin College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $18,350 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, CBC graduates make an average of $49,655 annually.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list.
On average, students take out $18,538 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, LWTech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,320 during the early year of their career.
Wenatchee Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list.
Degree recipients from WVC accumulate an average of $16,207 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, WVC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,404 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Charter College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $22,228 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Charter College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,122 during the early years of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region
View Best Nursing Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.