Best colleges for nursing in Washington
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in nursing, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for nursing in Washington16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Washington.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in nursing, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Washington
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 2
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 3
Seattle University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 4
Walla Walla University
College Place, WA · Private nonprofit#6 in Washington
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 5Tie
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 5Tie
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 7
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · PublicTop 8% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 8
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 9
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 10
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · PublicTop 8% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 11
Heritage University
Toppenish, WA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 12
Washington State University
Pullman, WA · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 13
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 14
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade B-
- 15
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade C+
- 16
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in nursing
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $14,091 | $14,615 | $78,466 | 85% |
| Gonzaga University | $35,119 | $24,454 | $78,892 | 86% |
| Seattle University | $34,662 | $19,883 | $75,272 | 76% |
| Walla Walla University | $23,329 | $26,842 | $61,885 | 60% |
| Northwest University | $22,288 | $20,891 | $54,914 | 71% |
| Western Washington University | $21,193 | $18,500 | $62,569 | 65% |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus | $12,319 | $14,615 | $78,466 | 65% |
| Pacific Lutheran University | $19,589 | $22,578 | $66,990 | 69% |
| Whitworth University | $26,534 | $25,000 | $58,561 | 71% |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | $10,163 | $14,615 | $78,466 | 63% |
| Heritage University | $14,598 | $14,573 | $49,416 | 54% |
| Washington State University | $14,971 | $19,500 | $68,905 | 61% |
| Seattle Pacific University | $24,488 | $24,000 | $64,506 | 62% |
| Saint Martin's University | $28,119 | $22,500 | $62,092 | 52% |
| Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education | $35,671 | $20,891 | $54,914 | 50% |
| Eastern Washington University | $13,886 | $19,500 | $57,897 | 43% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 16
- Arizona 10
- Arkansas 14
- California 53
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 17
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 35
- Georgia 37
- Hawaii 4
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 33
- Indiana 30
- Iowa 19
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 20
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 9
- Maryland 12
- Massachusetts 24
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 25
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 36
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 10
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 9
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 7
- New York 58
- North Carolina 33
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 64
- Oklahoma 17
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 68
- Puerto Rico 33
- Rhode Island 5
- South Carolina 20
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 31
- Texas 52
- Utah 14
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 33
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 24