Top Nursing Schools in Washington
This page lists 42 schools in Washington that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 7 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 24 associate degree (ADN), 19 bachelor's (BSN), 7 master's and 5 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 33 public and 9 private nonprofit. 29 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Seattle (4), Tacoma (4), Bellingham (3) and Kirkland (3).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory / official school websites
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Schools (42)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma, WA | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-CNL, DNP | CCNE |
| Peninsula College | Port Angeles, WA | Public | CNA, ADN | — |
| Pierce College District | Lakewood, WA | Public | ADN | — |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey, WA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Seattle Central College | Seattle, WA | Public | CNA, ADN | — |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle, WA | Private nonprofit | BSN, PhD | CCNE |
| Seattle University | Seattle, WA | Private nonprofit | BSN, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP, DNP-AGACNP, DNP-CNM, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, BSN-DNP | CCNE |
| Shoreline Community College | Shoreline, WA | Public | CNA, ADN | — |
| Skagit Valley College | Mount Vernon, WA | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| South Puget Sound Community College | Olympia, WA | Public | ADN | — |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane, WA | Public | ADN | ACEN (candidate) |
| Tacoma Community College | Tacoma, WA | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus | Bothell, WA | Public | BSN, MSN | — |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | Public | BSN, ABSN, MSN, DNP-AGACNP, DNP-AGPCNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, Doctorate, Doctorate-FNP, PhD | CCNE |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | Tacoma, WA | Public | BSN, MSN | — |
| Walla Walla Community College | Walla Walla, WA | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| Walla Walla University | College Place, WA | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Washington State University | Pullman, WA | Public | BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-Leadership, MSN-Nurse Educator, Grad Cert-Leadership, DNP, DNP-FNP, DNP-PMHNP, BSN-DNP, MSN-DNP, PhD | CCNE |
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee, WA | Public | CNA, ADN, BSN | ACEN, CCNE |
| Western Washington University | Bellingham, WA | Public | BSN | CCNE |
Before you apply in Washington
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Washington. See online coursework and clinical requirements.