The Evergreen State offers LPN tuition from $123/credit hour — and the Washington College Grant can cover full tuition at community colleges for qualifying students.
Washington's community and technical colleges offer some of the most affordable LPN programs on the West Coast. In-state tuition ranges from $123 to $191 per credit hour, with total program costs between $4,620 and $16,680 depending on the school and program length. Green River College's full-time program comes in around $7,000 with a 92% NCLEX pass rate.
💡 The Washington College Grant is one of the most generous state aid programs in the country — covering up to full tuition at community colleges for qualifying students. Combined with Pell Grant and employer reimbursement, many Washington moms complete their LPN at zero out-of-pocket cost.
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Washington LPNs earn an average of $63,250–$70,380/year — about 21% above the national average — driven by Seattle's high cost of living and strong healthcare demand. Eastern Washington pays less but offers a much lower cost of living in return.
| City / Region | Avg Annual Salary | Hourly Est. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle / King County | $68,000–$79,970 | ~$33–$38/hr | Highest pay; highest COL in WA |
| Tacoma / Pierce County | $63,000–$68,000 | ~$30–$33/hr | Strong military/VA market |
| Bellevue / Eastside | $70,000+ | ~$34/hr | Tech-adjacent healthcare boom |
| Spokane | $55,000–$62,000 | ~$26–$30/hr | Lower COL; Eastern WA hub |
| Yakima / Tri-Cities | $52,000–$58,000 | ~$25–$28/hr | Rural demand; very low COL |
| Olympia / Thurston County | $60,000–$65,000 | ~$29–$31/hr | State government healthcare jobs |
| Bellingham / Whatcom County | $58,000–$64,000 | ~$28–$31/hr | Near Canadian border; growing market |
🌲 Washington's health professional loan repayment program offers up to $75,000 for LPNs who serve in underserved areas. Eastern Washington and rural communities have many qualifying sites — meaning lower base pay but potential for massive loan payoff.
Washington's state need-based grant can cover up to full tuition at community and technical colleges for qualifying students. It's one of the most generous state aid programs in the country. Apply through FAFSA — the grant is awarded automatically based on your financial need. Many LPN students at community colleges pay nothing out of pocket after this grant.
File FAFSA first. At Washington community college tuition rates, a Pell Grant combined with the Washington College Grant can cover your entire LPN tuition. These two together are the most powerful combination available.
LPNs committed to working in underserved Washington communities can receive up to $75,000 in loan repayment. Eastern Washington, rural communities, and tribal health settings are common qualifying sites.
Federal program repaying up to 85% of unpaid nursing education debt for LPNs who work at qualifying facilities. Washington has numerous eligible sites, particularly outside the Seattle metro area.
Washington's major healthcare employers — including Providence, MultiCare, Virginia Mason, and UW Medicine — offer $5,000–$10,000/year in tuition assistance. Working as a CNA at a sponsoring employer while attending LPN school is a well-established path in Washington.
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Stack your grants: Washington College Grant + Pell Grant together can cover your entire community college tuition. File FAFSA as early as October 1 — both grants are need-based and awarded on a first-come basis.
Green River online option: Green River College's part-time online LPN track is one of the few true hybrid programs in Washington — only one in-person Saturday per week for 8 hours. Ideal for moms who can't commute daily.
NLC = travel nursing access: Washington's compact license opens the door to travel nursing contracts across 40+ states. Once you have 1–2 years of experience, travel LPN assignments can pay $30–$45/hr with free housing.
Military families near JBLM: Clover Park Technical College's LPN program is specifically well-connected to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Military spouse scholarships and VA tuition benefits may also apply.
Eastern WA = lower competition: Yakima, Wenatchee, Tri-Cities — smaller programs, more rural, but less competitive for seats and great loan forgiveness potential. If you're flexible on location, Eastern WA is a smart move.
Employer sponsorship is common here: Providence, MultiCare, and UW Medicine actively sponsor LPN students. Get your CNA at one of these systems first, ask about their nursing scholarship programs, and let them fund your education.
Washington's community college system makes LPN-to-RN bridging very accessible and affordable. Several colleges — including Wenatchee Valley, Spokane CC, and Clover Park — offer LPN-to-ADN or LPN-to-BSN pathways designed for working nurses. Many allow you to keep your LPN job while completing the bridge.
Avg RN salary in Washington: ~$106,950/year (BLS) — roughly $37,000–$43,000 more than the average LPN. Washington is one of the best states in the country for the LPN-to-RN financial payoff.
Explore LPN→RN Bridge Programs →Ready to prep for the NCLEX-PN? Visit our free NCLEX-PN study guide →
In-state tuition ranges from $123–$191/credit hour at community colleges, with total program costs of $4,620–$16,680. Green River College's popular program costs about $7,000 for full-time students. With the Washington College Grant and Pell Grant combined, many students pay nothing out of pocket.
Yes! Washington joined the Nurse Licensure Compact. Your Washington LPN license is recognized in 40+ other compact states, making travel nursing and cross-border work much easier.
Washington LPNs earn $63,250–$79,970/year depending on location and source. Seattle-area LPNs earn the most, while Eastern Washington pays less but offers significantly lower cost of living and loan forgiveness opportunities.
Washington prohibits fully online LPN programs — clinical training must be in person. However, Green River College offers a hybrid part-time program with online theory coursework and one Saturday per week in person. Several schools offer online prerequisites.
Full-time programs take as little as 9 months (Green River College). Part-time and hybrid tracks typically run 17–18 months. Most programs fall in the 12–18 month range.
Washington College Grant (up to full tuition at community colleges), Federal Pell Grant (up to $7,395), Washington State Health Professional Loan Repayment (up to $75,000), Nurse Corps Loan Repayment (up to 85% of debt), and employer tuition reimbursement from Providence, MultiCare, UW Medicine, and others.
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