2026 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Washington
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for practical nursing & nursing assistants students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in Washington
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants
Leading the list is Bates Technical College, our #1 school for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 109 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Bates Technical College in the most recent year.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Bates Technical College
Students looking for a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants program will find one at Shoreline Community College, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Shoreline. About 69 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Shoreline Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Shoreline Community College earn around $62,009 in the first couple years of their career. Shoreline Community College graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans.
Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Shoreline Community College
Clover Park Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 118 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Clover Park Technical College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Clover Park Technical College earn a median of $53,065 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,205.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Clover Park Technical College
A rank of #4 makes Green River Community College one of the top schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants. This large public university is located in the city of Auburn. About 168 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Green River Community College in the most recent year.
Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Green River Community College
A rank of #5 makes Renton Technical College one of the top schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Renton Technical College awarded about 20 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $80,411 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,582 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Renton Technical College
Olympic College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Olympic College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bremerton. Olympic College awarded about 66 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Olympic College earn a median of $48,850 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,333 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Olympic College
Tacoma Community College came in at #7 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 77 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Tacoma Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $41,732 in their early career. Tacoma Community College graduates carry a median of $14,822 in student loans.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Tacoma Community College
Seattle Community College Central Campus earned the #8 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Seattle Community College Central Campus awarded about 50 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Seattle Community College Central Campus generally make around $53,048. Seattle Community College Central Campus graduates carry a median of $14,699 in student loans.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Seattle Community College Central Campus
Bellingham Technical College came in at #9 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. Bellingham Technical College awarded about 60 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Bellingham Technical College
Columbia Basin College came in at #10 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the suburb of Pasco, Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public institution. Columbia Basin College awarded about 49 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Columbia Basin College earn a median of $63,976 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,170 to complete this degree.
Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Columbia Basin College
Walla Walla Community College earned the #11 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Walla Walla. There were roughly 73 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Walla Walla Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Walla Walla Community College earn around $46,131 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Walla Walla Community College
Whatcom Community College placed #12 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Bellingham, Whatcom Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 54 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Whatcom Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $51,466 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,588 to complete this degree.
Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Whatcom Community College
Lower Columbia College came in at #13 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Longview. About 40 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Lower Columbia College in the most recent year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Lower Columbia College earn around $53,280 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,340 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Lower Columbia College
Centralia College placed #14 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Centralia. There were roughly 59 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Centralia College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $77,740 in their early career.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Centralia College
Skagit Valley College earned the #15 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Mount Vernon. Skagit Valley College awarded about 37 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Skagit Valley College earn a median of $44,860 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,056 to complete this degree.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Skagit Valley College
Big Bend Community College placed #16 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the town of Moses Lake, Big Bend Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 16 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Big Bend Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Big Bend Community College earn around $47,970 in the first couple years of their career. Big Bend Community College graduates carry a median of $12,662 in student loans.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Big Bend Community College
Edmonds Community College landed the #17 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the suburb of Lynnwood, Edmonds Community College is a large public institution. About 25 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Edmonds Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Edmonds Community College earn around $35,618 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,025 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Edmonds Community College
Peninsula College landed the #18 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Port Angeles, Peninsula College is a mid-sized public university. About 24 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Peninsula College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Peninsula College generally make around $51,243. Students borrow a median of $12,730 to complete this degree.
Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Peninsula College
Yakima Valley Community College landed the #19 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Yakima Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Yakima. About 10 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Yakima Valley Community College in the most recent year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Yakima Valley Community College earn a median of $49,625 early in their careers. Yakima Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $14,649 in student loans.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Yakima Valley Community College
More Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Rankings
View All Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
