Nursing in Washington
Washington has 61 nursing schools running 84 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 86%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $124,200; nurse practitioners, $156,100. Washington is a compact state, so a license here can be a multistate license. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Washington
55 of Washington’s 84 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 84.5% — 2.0 points below the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 92.4%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 38 | 84.8% (26 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 33 | 86% (20 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. Ties go to the program with more nursing graduates. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Big Bend Community CollegeMoses Lake · Associate Degree Programs RN - Full Time Program, Rural Nursing Education Program (RNEP)100%
- Olympic CollegeBremerton · Licensed Practical Nursing Program to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs - Nursing Program100%
- Gonzaga UniversitySpokane · Baccalaureate Degree Programs RN - BSN and ABSN program options98.7%
- Centralia CollegeCentralia · Associate Degree Programs RN - Nursing Program96.6%
- Bellingham Technical CollegeBellingham · Associate Degree Programs RN96%
What Nurses Earn in Washington
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Washington is $26,650 above the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $23,800 above the $132,300 national NP median.
| Washington | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $124,200 | $156,100 |
| Median hourly | $59.71 | $75.05 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $89,630 | $122,420 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $161,910 | $187,240 |
| Employed in state | 69,260 | 6,700 |
Licensing in Washington
Washington is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 31, 2024). A nurse whose primary residence is Washington can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license.
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Washington board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly.
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Washington?
Washington has 61 nursing schools running 84 board-approved programs — 72 RN programs and 12 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Washington?
The median Washington RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 86%, and the average across programs was 84.5% — 2.0 points below the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Washington?
Registered nurses in Washington earn a median of $124,200 a year ($59.71 an hour), $26,650 above the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $156,100 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Washington a compact nursing state?
Washington is a Nurse Licensure Compact state (implemented January 31, 2024). A nurse whose primary residence is Washington can hold one multistate license and practice in every other compact state without applying for another license. Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.