Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Green River College, Clover Park Technical College and Olympic College award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Washington: 188, 141 and 104 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Washington colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 1,147 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clover Park Technical College Lakewood Public · Certificate | $53,065 | 141 | 43% | — | $16,205 |
| 2 | Olympic College Bremerton Public · Certificate | $48,850 | 104 | 31% | — | $15,333 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Washington
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green River College Auburn Public | 188 | Not reported |
| 2 | Clover Park Technical College Lakewood Public | 141 | $53,065 |
| 3 | Olympic College Bremerton Public | 104 | $48,850 |
| 4 | Walla Walla Community College Walla Walla Public | 76 | Not reported |
| 5 | Seattle Central College Seattle Public | 72 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bellingham Technical College Bellingham Public | 70 | Not reported |
| 7 | Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon Public | 62 | Not reported |
| 8 | Whatcom Community College Bellingham Public | 52 | Not reported |
| 9 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma Public | 43 | Not reported |
| 10 | Columbia Basin College Pasco Public | 40 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 12 Washington colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Columbia College | Longview | Public | 62 |
| Shoreline College | Shoreline | Public | 46 |
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Public | 38 |
| Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake | Public | 37 |
| Bates Technical College | Tacoma | Public | 31 |
| Peninsula College | Port Angeles | Public | 30 |
| Centralia College | Centralia | Public | 29 |
| Bellevue College | Bellevue | Public | 10 |
| Yakima Valley College | Yakima | Public | 8 |
| Renton Technical College | Renton | Public | 4 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Kirkland | Public | 3 |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Green River College (188 graduates a year), Clover Park Technical College (141 graduates a year) and Olympic College (104 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Washington colleges offer Practical Nursing.
Which Practical Nursing program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Clover Park Technical College tops the list at $53,065. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Washington is $52,230 (median $49,180), across about 30,270 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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