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.”
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.
Anne Mason, interim dean
WSU College of Nursing
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.
The latest rankings, published Sept. 23, evaluated nearly 1,700 universities nationwide. In addition to nursing’s sharp rise — up from No. 96 in 2024 — WSU ranked No. 77 in undergraduate engineering, No. 88 in business, and No. 98 in computer science. Psychology also earned recognition at No. 152.
Among broader institutional measures, WSU placed No. 192 among all National Universities and No. 104 among Top Public Schools. While those rankings reflect a modest year-over-year adjustment, WSU continues to be recognized as a major public research institution with nationally competitive academic offerings.
For a full list of WSU’s 2026 rankings, visit the WSU rankings page on U.S. News website.
