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2025 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Washington

24 Colleges in Washington
1,683 Associate Degrees
$78,527 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a associate degree in nursing, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #2 most popular program in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools in Washington to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a associate degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,683 associate degrees in nursing to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Associate Degree

Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Washington Your choice of nursing for getting your associate degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Early-Career Earnings

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

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More Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Washington list to help you make the college decision.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Nursing in Washington

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for nursing students seeking a an associate degree.

10 Top Washington Schools for an Associate in Nursing

1

Shoreline Community College is a great option for students interested in an associate degree in nursing. Located in the large suburb of Shoreline, Shoreline Community College is a public college with a small student population.

After graduation, nursing associate recipients usually make about $78,850 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a associate in nursing from Shoreline Community College

2

Seattle Central College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in nursing. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Central is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Seattle Central College earn $4,590 more than the standard nursing grad.

More information about a associate in nursing from Seattle Central College

3

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is one of the best schools in the country for getting an associate degree in nursing. Located in the large suburb of Kirkland, LWTech is a public school with a small student population.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Lake Washington Institute of Technology receive $4,786 more than the standard nursing grad.

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

4

It's difficult to beat Walla Walla Community College if you wish to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Located in the small city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $75,416.

More information about a associate in nursing from Walla Walla Community College

5

WVC is a small public college located in the small city of Wenatchee.

Soon after graduating, nursing associate recipients usually make around $76,527 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a associate in nursing from Wenatchee Valley College

6

LCC is a small public college located in the city of Longview.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $75,715 for their early career.

More information about a associate in nursing from Lower Columbia College

7
BC crest
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA

Located in the city of Bellevue, BC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Bellevue College earn $3,759 more than the typical nursing student.

More information about a associate in nursing from Bellevue College

8

Located in the city of Everett, Everett Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After graduation, nursing associate recipients typically earn about $79,945 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in nursing from Everett Community College

9
Highline crest
Highline College
Des Moines, WA

Highline is a medium-sized public college located in the large suburb of Des Moines.

Associate recipients from the nursing major at Highline College get $6,092 above the standard graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in nursing from Highline College

10

Located in the medium-sized city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Nursing associate degree recipients from Tacoma Community College get an earnings boost of around $3,920 above the average income of nursing majors.

More information about a associate in nursing from Tacoma Community College

Best Nursing Colleges in the Far Western US Region

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

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
California 192 5,581
Oregon 147 608
Nevada 112 533
Hawaii 59 135

View All Rankings >

Nursing is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 1,683

Majors Similar to Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 475
Allied Health Professions 382
Mental & Social Health Services 194
Health & Medical Administrative Services 190
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 129
Health Sciences & Services 127
Dental Support Services 99
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science 15
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 6
Health/Medical Prep Programs 4

Notes and References

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