Nursing Schools in Washington: All 84 Approved Programs & NCLEX Pass Rates
Washington has 61 schools running 84 board-approved nursing programs — 72 RN-track and 12 PN/LPN-track. The average 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate across Washington programs is 84.5%, 2.0 points below the national average of 86.5%. Every row below comes straight from the state board of nursing's published approved-program list — not self-reported school marketing.
84
Approved programs
61
Schools
84.5%
Avg RN pass rate (2025)
86.5%
National RN average
Best Nursing Schools in Washington by NCLEX Pass Rate
Top RN programs ranked by 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, among programs with a published 2025 rate. Rates are one year of data — check multi-year trends before deciding.
- 1100%Big Bend Community CollegeMoses Lake · Associate Degree Programs RN - Full Time Program, Rural Nursing Education Program (RNEP)
- 2100%Olympic CollegeBremerton · Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs - Nursing Program
- 398.7%Gonzaga UniversitySpokane · Baccalaureate Degree Programs RN - BSN and ABSN program options
- 496.6%Centralia CollegeCentralia · Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing Program
- 596%Bellingham Technical CollegeBellingham · Associate Degree Programs RN
- 695.3%Skagit Valley College - Mt Vernon/Whidbey IslandMt Vernon · Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing Department
- 794.6%Walla Walla UniversityPortland (OR) · Baccalaureate Degree Programs RN
- 893.6%South Puget Sound Community CollegeOlympia · Associate Degree Programs RN - School of Nursing
- 993.3%Green River Community CollegeAuburn · Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs - Full-Time/ Part-Time, Nursing Department
- 1092.9%Washington State University - Spokane CampusSpokane · Baccalaureate Degree Programs RN
Every Approved Nursing Program in Washington
Sort by any column, filter RN vs PN/LPN, or search a school or city.
84 of 84 programs · “—” = no 2025 first-time pass rate published by the board
| Bates Technical College | Tacoma | Licensed Practical Nursing Programs - PN ProgramPN | 96.4% |
| Bellevue College | Bellevue | Associate Degree Programs RNRN | 89.7% |
| Bellingham Technical College | Bellingham | Associate Degree Programs RNRN | 96% |
| Bellingham Technical College | Bellingham | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN)RN | — |
| Bellingham Technical College | Bellingham | Licensed Practical Nursing Programs - Part-time Evening Practical Nursing ProgramPN | 100% |
| Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake | Associate Degree Programs RN - Full Time Program, Rural Nursing Education Program (RNEP)RN | 100% |
| Centralia College | Centralia | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 96.6% |
| Clackamas Community CollegeDistance | Milwaukie, OR | ADN/RNRN | — |
| Clark College | Vancouver | Associate Degree Programs RNRN | 88.6% |
| Clover Park Technical College | Tacoma | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing DepartmentRN | 80% |
| Clover Park Technical College | Tacoma | Licensed Practical Nursing Programs - Nursing DepartmentPN | 80.7% |
| Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 84.8% |
| Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs - Nursing ProgramRN | 42.9% |
| Concordia University St. PaulDistance | Portland, OR | ABSNRN | — |
| Creighton UniversityDistance | Omaha, NE | BSNRN | — |
| Eastern Washington University | Spokane | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 81% |
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing ProgramRN | — |
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Licensed Practical Nursing Programs - Nursing ProgramPN | 81.5% |
| Emory UniversityDistance | Atlanta, GA | D-ABSNRN | — |
| Everett Community College | Everett | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing DepartmentRN | 78.2% |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RN - BSN and ABSN program optionsRN | 98.7% |
| Grays Harbor College | Aberdeen | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing DepartmentRN | 77.1% |
| Green River Community College | Auburn | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs - Full-Time/ Part-Time, Nursing DepartmentRN | 93.3% |
| Green River Community College | Auburn | Licensed Practical Nursing Programs - Full-Time/Part-Time ProgramPN | 86.4% |
| Heritage University | Toppenish | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 82.4% |
| Highline Community College | Des Moines | Associate Degree Programs RNRN | 82% |
| Indiana State UniversityDistance | Terre Haute, IN | LPN-BSNRN | — |
| Lake Area Technical CollegeDistance | Watertown, SD | LPNPN | — |
| Lake WA Institute of Technology | Kirkland | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 74.3% |
| Lewis-Clark State CollegeDistance | Lewiston, ID | BSNRN | — |
| Lewis-Clark State CollegeDistance | Lewiston, ID | LPNPN | — |
| Lewis-Clark State CollegeDistance | Lewiston, ID | LPN-BSNRN | — |
| Linfield CollegeDistance | Portland, OR | BSNRN | — |
| Lower Columbia College | Longview | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 83.1% |
| Lower Columbia College | Longview | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing ProgramRN | — |
| North Idaho CollegeDistance | Coeur d'Alene, ID | ADN/RNRN | — |
| North Idaho CollegeDistance | Coeur d'Alene, ID | LPNPN | — |
| Northwest University | Kirkland | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 86.5% |
| Olympic College | Bremerton | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 87.1% |
| Olympic College | Bremerton | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs - Nursing ProgramRN | 100% |
| Olympic College | Bremerton | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing ProgramRN | — |
| Olympic College | Bremerton | Licensed Practical Nursing Programs - Nursing Program, Corpsman/Medic to PN ProgramPN | 93.8% |
| Oregon Health and Science UniversityDistance | Portland, OR | BSNRN | — |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 86% |
| Pacific Lutheran University - Lynnwood | Lynnwood | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 86% |
| Pacific Lutheran University- Auburn | Auburn | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RN - ABSN programRN | 86% |
| Peninsula College | Port Angeles | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 79.3% |
| Pierce College - Puyallup | Puyallup | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 74.2% |
| Pierce College - Puyallup | Puyallup | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing ProgramRN | — |
| Portland Community CollegeDistance | Portland, OR | ADN/RNRN | — |
| Renton Technical CollegeConditional | Renton | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 42.9% |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 86.7% |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science in Nursing ProgramsRN | 84.6% |
| Seattle Colleges | Seattle | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 83.5% |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 85.6% |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 72.8% |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Non-nursing baccalaureate degree to DNP (AGACNP; Family Nurse Practitioner; DNP/Family PMHNP; DNP/Certified Nurse Midwife) - listed under 'Graduate and RN to BSN Programs'RN | 74.5% |
| Shoreline Community College | Seattle | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 84.1% |
| Shoreline Community College | Seattle | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing ProgramRN | — |
| Skagit Valley College - Mt Vernon/Whidbey Island | Mt Vernon | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing DepartmentRN | 95.3% |
| Skagit Valley College - Mt Vernon/Whidbey Island | Mt Vernon | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing DepartmentRN | — |
| South Puget Sound Community College | Olympia | Associate Degree Programs RN - School of NursingRN | 93.6% |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing EducationRN | 88.5% |
| Spokane Community CollegeNew/provisional | Spokane | Licensed Practical Nursing Programs - Nursing EducationPN | 100% |
| Sumner CollegeDistance | Portland, OR | BSN (WA Residents)RN | — |
| Sumner CollegeDistance | Portland, OR | LPNPN | — |
| Tacoma Community College | Tacoma | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 84.7% |
| Tacoma Community College | Tacoma | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing ProgramRN | — |
| University of North DakotaDistance | Grand Forks, ND | BSN Pre-licensure practicumRN | — |
| University of Northern ColoradoDistance | Greeley, CO | BSNRN | — |
| University of PortlandDistance | Portland, OR | BSNRN | — |
| University of Washington | Seattle | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 85.4% |
| University of Wisconsin-OshkoshDistance | Oshkosh, WI | Accelerated BSNRN | — |
| Walla Walla Community College | Walla Walla | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing EducationRN | 80% |
| Walla Walla Community College | Walla Walla | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Registered Nursing Program (ADN) - Nursing EducationRN | — |
| Walla Walla University | Portland (OR) | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 94.6% |
| Washington State University - Spokane Campus | Spokane | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 92.9% |
| Washington State University - Tri Cities | Richland | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 92.9% |
| Washington State University - Yakima | Yakima | Baccalaureate Degree Programs RNRN | 92.9% |
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 91.7% |
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee | Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs - Nursing ProgramRN | 66.7% |
| Whatcom Community College | Bellingham | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 92.5% |
| Yakima Valley College | Yakima | Licensed Practical Nursing Programs - Nursing ProgramPN | 100% |
| Yakima Valley Community College | Yakima | Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing ProgramRN | 89.8% |
Whichever school you choose, the NCLEX is the finish line
The pass rates above are made by students, not buildings. Students who do well start NCLEX-style practice in their first semester — studying for class exams and the boards at the same time. NurseSavvy turns your own course materials into matched NCLEX practice questions from day one, for $19/mo after a free 14-day trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best nursing school in Washington by NCLEX pass rate?
2 RN programs in Washington tied for the highest 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate at 100%, including Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake — see the full ranked list above, among programs with a published 2025 rate on the state board's list.
How many nursing schools are in Washington?
Washington has 61 schools offering 84 board-approved nursing programs: 72 RN-track (ADN/BSN and similar) and 12 PN/LPN-track programs, per the state board of nursing's current approved-program list.
What is the average NCLEX pass rate in Washington?
Across Washington RN programs with a published 2025 rate, the average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 84.5% — 2.0 points below the national average of 86.5%.
What does a first-time NCLEX pass rate tell me about a school?
It is the share of a program’s graduates who passed the NCLEX on their first attempt — the single most comparable public outcome number nursing programs report. Boards of nursing track it for program approval, and consistently low rates can put a program on conditional status. Compare it alongside cost, location, and program length, not in isolation.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates are taken directly from the Washington board of nursing's published approved-program materials. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program (new programs, small cohorts, or PN lists without rate tables). Pass rates refresh annually; this page is rebuilt from the board lists when they update.
Nursing schools in other states
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