Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Bellevue College

Washington State's practical nursing programs typically produce stronger outcomes than what national benchmarks suggest for Bellevue College. While the estimated $44,134 first-year earnings here align with the national median, peer programs across Washington report a median of $50,958—nearly $7,000 more. Nearby Clover Park Technical College and Olympic College both show reported earnings well above $48,000, raising questions about whether this program delivers the same market access as competitors just miles away.

The estimated debt load of $13,671 translates to a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio, and it sits below both state and national medians for nursing assistant programs. For a credential that can be completed relatively quickly, this isn't alarming. But the earnings gap matters more here: in Washington's higher-cost metro areas like Bellevue, starting at $44,000 versus $50,000+ makes a meaningful difference in financial stability.

The low Pell percentage (10%) is unusual for a technical certificate program and might signal limited support infrastructure or that the program primarily serves students with other resources. Before committing, contact the nursing department directly to understand their actual graduate outcomes and why their figures aren't being reported. Also compare clinical placement sites and employer partnerships with nearby programs showing stronger results—those connections often explain the earnings difference.