WSU Nursing program ranks among nation's top 50 in U.S. News & World Report 2026 rankings

Washington State University’s undergraduate nursing program has climbed into a top 50 ranking nationwide for the first time, tying at No. 40 in the U.S. News & World Report’s newly released Best Colleges 2026 edition. The recognition highlights WSU’s role as a leader in preparing nurses to address shortages of health care providers across the state and country.

“As the state’s land-grant institution, the College of Nursing educates BSN students on three campuses and graduates more nurses with bachelor’s degrees than any other program in the state,” said Anne Mason, interim dean of the College of Nursing.” “Our focus is on excellence in practical, hands-on education which creates Coug Nurses who are not only career-ready but community-minded.”

Over 95% of nursing undergraduates pass the national RN licensing exam on their first attempt, in comparison to the national average which is 91%. The College of Nursing has prepared over 13,700 nurses who are meeting the healthcare needs of communities across the state of Washington and beyond. In addition, in January, the College is set to launch its Rural Nurse Pathway program, designed for rural areas where the nursing shortage is most acute, allowing students to train in their own hometown.

For more info see this link.