College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2025 Best Registered Nursing Schools in Washington

38 Colleges in Washington
3,509 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded
Ranked #3 in popularity, registered nursing is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 38 schools in Washington to determine which ones were the best for registered nursing students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 3,509 degrees in registered nursing to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Registered Nursing School

Best Registered Nursing Schools in Washington Your choice of registered nursing school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Registered Nursing School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Registered Nursing Rankings by Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Registered Nursing
Bachelor's Degrees in Registered Nursing
Master's Degrees in Registered Nursing
Doctor's Degrees in Registered Nursing

The registered nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Registered Nursing Schools in Washington. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for Registered Nursing in Washington

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the registered nursing degree levels they offer.

10 Top Washington Schools in Registered Nursing

1
Seattle U crest
Seattle University
Seattle, WA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
3rd Most Popular In WA
233 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Seattle University is a wonderful decision for students interested in a degree in registered nursing. Seattle U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Seattle. A Best Colleges rank of #155 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Seattle U is a great university overall.

There were approximately 233 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Seattle U in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Seattle University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In WA
280 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

University of Washington - Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in registered nursing. Located in the large city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #44 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UW Seattle is a great university overall.

There were about 280 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at UW Seattle in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN Program Name

With the affordable and transfer-friendly online RN to BSN program at Southern New Hampshire University, you can build upon your prior educational journey and enhance your professional experience in a program designed to fit around your schedule.

More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Gonzaga crest
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In WA
206 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

It's difficult to beat Gonzaga University if you want to pursue a degree in registered nursing. Located in the midsize city of Spokane, Gonzaga is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #195 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Gonzaga is a great university overall.

There were roughly 206 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Gonzaga in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Gonzaga University

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In WA
433 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Every student who is interested in registered nursing needs to check out Washington State University. Located in the town of Pullman, Wazzu is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #182 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Wazzu is a great university overall.

There were approximately 433 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Wazzu in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Washington State University

5
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
13th Most Popular In WA
98 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Located in the suburb of Tacoma, PLU is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #568 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means PLU is a great university overall.

There were approximately 98 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at PLU in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Pacific Lutheran University

6
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
12th Most Popular In WA
106 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Shoreline Community College is a small public college located in the suburb of Shoreline. This college ranks 23rd out of 50 colleges for overall quality in the state of Washington.

There were roughly 106 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Shoreline Community College in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Shoreline Community College

7
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
6th Most Popular In WA
105 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Seattle Central is a moderately-sized public college located in the large city of Seattle. A Best Colleges rank of #892 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Seattle Central is a great college overall.

There were roughly 105 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Seattle Central in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Seattle Central College

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN Program Name

At Southern New Hampshire University, we understand the demands placed on today's nursing professionals. When it comes to your education, consider saving money and time by electing the RN to MSN pathway. Eligible students will complete graduate courses within their undergraduate program. This pathway allows you to gain a BSN along the way and ultimately shorten your time within the MSN Nursing Education or Population Healthcare tracks.

More information about a degree in BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Walla Walla U crest
Walla Walla University
College Place, WA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
24th Most Popular In WA
53 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Located in the small suburb of College Place, Walla Walla U is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 21st out of 50 schools for overall quality in the state of Washington.

There were about 53 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Walla Walla U in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Walla Walla University

9
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
21st Most Popular In WA
83 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

LWTech is a small public school located in the large suburb of Kirkland. A Best Colleges rank of #370 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means LWTech is a great school overall.

There were roughly 83 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at LWTech in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Lake Washington Institute of Technology

10
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
15th Most Popular In WA
107 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded

Walla Walla Community College is a small public college located in the small city of Walla Walla. This college ranks 30th out of 50 schools for overall quality in the state of Washington.

There were approximately 107 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Walla Walla Community College in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in registered nursing from Walla Walla Community College

Best Registered Nursing Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
California 999 15,534
Oregon 587 1,412
Nevada 354 1,828
Hawaii 267 519
Alaska 167 171

View All Rankings >

Registered Nursing is one of 23 different types of Nursing programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing Practice 72
Nursing Administration 50
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 34
Clinical Nurse Leader 28
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 18
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 17
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 13
Nurse Anesthetist 12
Nursing Science 3

View All Registered Nursing Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options