Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Saint Martin's University, Walla Walla University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Saint Martin's University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $94,947, College Scorecard. Washington State University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus and Seattle University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Washington: 404, 360 and 322 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 41 Washington colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 4,065 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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 | Saint Martin's University Lacey Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $94,947 | 61 | 52% | $22,131 | — |
| 2 | Walla Walla University College Place Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $90,709 | 35 | 60% | $22,260 | $29,500 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $86,212 | 360 | 85% | — | $18,750 |
| 4 | Northwest University Kirkland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,504 | 37 | 71% | $21,433 | $25,893 |
| 5 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,466 | 244 | 86% | $30,006 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $83,894 | 404 | 60% | — | $21,500 |
| 7 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,761 | 256 | 69% | $19,944 | $29,000 |
| 8 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,671 | 96 | 62% | $24,653 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,021 | 322 | 76% | $31,900 | $25,000 |
| 10 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,808 | 37 | 65% | — | $20,146 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highline College Des Moines Public · Associate degree | $84,619 | 62 | 35% | — | $13,000 |
| 2 | Olympic College Bremerton Public · Associate degree | $84,108 | 130 | 31% | — | $20,000 |
| 3 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland Public · Associate degree | $83,313 | 69 | 37% | — | $15,000 |
| 4 | Seattle Central College Seattle Public · Associate degree | $83,117 | 102 | 32% | — | $18,312 |
| 5 | Whatcom Community College Bellingham Public · Associate degree | $82,805 | 40 | 36% | — | $17,726 |
| 6 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma Public · Associate degree | $82,447 | 99 | 32% | — | $19,000 |
| 7 | Bellevue College Bellevue Public · Associate degree | $82,286 | 114 | 36% | — | $17,152 |
| 8 | Grays Harbor College Aberdeen Public · Associate degree | $81,243 | 35 | 39% | — | $18,769 |
| 9 | Everett Community College Everett Public · Associate degree | $79,945 | 150 | 37% | — | $19,000 |
| 10 | Peninsula College Port Angeles Public · Associate degree | $79,369 | 29 | 37% | — | $16,746 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Washington
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 404 | $83,894 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 360 | $86,212* |
| 3 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 322 | $81,021 |
| 4 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 256 | $81,761 |
| 5 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 244 | $84,466 |
| 6 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public | 129 | $86,212* |
| 7 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public | 115 | $86,212* |
| 8 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 96 | $81,671 |
| 9 | Pierce College District Lakewood Public | 90 | Not reported |
| 10 | Saint Martin's University Lacey Private not-for-profit | 61 | $94,947 |
ShowHide the other 31 Washington colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Washington State University (404 graduates a year), University of Washington-Seattle Campus (360 graduates a year) and Seattle University (322 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 41 Washington colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Saint Martin's University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $94,947, College Scorecard. Walla Walla University and University of Washington-Seattle Campus follow. By degrees awarded, Washington State University is the largest, with 404 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Martin's University tops the list at $94,947. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Washington is $121,540 (median $124,200), across about 69,260 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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