2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
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 Washington ranking. This report analyzed 41 schools in Washington to see which ones offered the best value programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Nursing Schools in Washington
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Bellevue College the best value school in Washington for nursing students working on their degree. Bellevue College is a fairly large public school located in Bellevue, Washington that handed out 117 degrees in 2020-2021.
BC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,594 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,741 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, BC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,966 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Highline College is a great place for nursing students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. This small public school is located in Des Moines, Washington, and it awarded 142 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Highline are $4,813 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,827 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Highline graduates make an average of $47,918 annually.
Highline also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools in Washington list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Out of the 41 schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Everett Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Everett Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Everett, Washington that handed out 130 degrees in 2020-2021.
Everett Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,597 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,056 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Everett Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,179 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Shoreline Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington list. Shoreline Community College is a small public school located in Shoreline, Washington that handed out 96 degrees in 2020-2021.
Shoreline Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,013 in tuition and fees each year. 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.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Seattle Central College is a great place for nursing students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Seattle Central is a small public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 145 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Seattle Central are $4,670 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,549 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Seattle Central graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $56,258 during the early year of their career.
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 Washington list. This small public school is located in Centralia, Washington, and it awarded 68 degrees in 2020-2021.
Centralia College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,239 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $12,250 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Centralia College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,843 during the early years of their career.
Spokane Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Spokane, Washington, the medium-sized public school handed out 88 degrees in 2020-2021.
Spokane Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,135 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,445 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Spokane Community College graduates make an average of $37,399 annually.
Wenatchee Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. WVC is located in Wenatchee, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 68 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WVC are $4,734 per year. On average, students take out $16,207 in loans while pursuing 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.
Lower Columbia College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington list. LCC is a public institution located in Longview, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 120 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LCC are $5,403 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,726 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, LCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,229 during the early year of their career.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Kirkland, Washington, the small public school awarded 77 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
LWTech undergraduate students pay an average of $10,146 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,538 in student loans. During the early years of their career, LWTech graduates make an average of $51,320 annually.
Olympic College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. OC is a small public school situated in Bremerton, Washington. It awarded 152 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at OC are $9,638 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,653 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from OC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,431 during the early years of their career.
Clark College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Clark College is a public institution located in Vancouver, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 87 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Clark College are $10,133 a year. On average, students take out $16,706 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Clark College graduates make an average of $35,720 annually.
Walla Walla Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington list. This small public school is located in Walla Walla, Washington, and it awarded 92 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Walla Walla Community College are $6,350 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,291 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Walla Walla Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,019 during the early year of their career.
Bellingham Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Bellingham, Washington, the small public school handed out 122 degrees in 2020-2021.
Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute undergraduate students pay an average of $5,227 in tuition and fees each year. Once they receive their degree, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,075 during the early year of their career.
Yakima Valley College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington ranking. Yakima, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at YVC are $5,352 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,839 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, YVC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,465 during the early year of their career.
Tacoma Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington list. Tacoma Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Tacoma, Washington that handed out 109 degrees in 2020-2021.
Tacoma Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,391 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $18,614 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Tacoma Community College graduates make an average of $43,924 annually.
Skagit Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list. Skagit Valley College is a small public school situated in Mount Vernon, Washington. It awarded 131 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Skagit Valley College are $7,507 per year. On average, students take out $14,748 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Skagit Valley College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,360 during the early years of their career.
Big Bend Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. Big Bend Community College is a public institution located in Moses Lake, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 58 degrees in 2020-2021.
Big Bend Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,098 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,909 in student loans.After graduating from Big Bend Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,243 during the early years of their career.
Whatcom Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. Whatcom Community College is a public institution located in Bellingham, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 87 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Whatcom Community College are $10,473 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,808 in student loans.After graduating from Whatcom Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,278 during the early years of their career.
Grays Harbor College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. GHC is located in Aberdeen, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at GHC are $10,040 a year. On average, students take out $14,285 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, GHC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,936 during the early year of their career.
Columbia Basin College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Pasco, Washington, and it awarded 70 degrees in 2020-2021.
CBC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,735 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $18,350 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from CBC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,655 during the early years of their career.
South Puget Sound Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington ranking. Olympia, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Puget Sound Community College are $10,428 per year. On average, students take out $16,096 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, South Puget Sound Community College graduates make an average of $39,106 annually.
Clover Park Technical College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Lakewood, Washington, the small public school awarded 70 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
CPTC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,740 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,810 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CPTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,883 during the early years of their career.
Peninsula College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Washington list. Located in Port Angeles, Washington, the small public school handed out 32 degrees in 2020-2021.
Peninsula College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,779 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $17,751 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Peninsula College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,212 during the early years of their career.
Eastern Washington University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in Cheney, Washington, the fairly large public school handed out 45 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at EWU are $25,748 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,697 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $165 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from EWU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,008 during the early years of their career.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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.
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