Yakima Valley College Nursing: What to Know About ADN, PN & Costs (2026)
YVC runs nursing out of its Yakima campus: a six-quarter ADN (Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP) with fall, winter, and spring entries; a winter-start Practical Nurse certificate; and (per the catalog) a Nursing Assistant Certified short certificate. TEAS rules, published 2025–26 per-credit tuition, and NCLEX-RN/NCLEX-PN figures below come from YVC and Washington Nursing Commission pass rate reporting—confirm deadlines and cohort details for your application cycle.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Between the Yakima Valley’s agricultural communities and Central Washington’s referral hospitals, YVC trains nurses who rotate through local acute and community settings—not only urban tertiary centers. Triple ADN entry terms (fall, winter, spring), a separate PN track, and publicly posted TEAS cutoffs make it practical to plan prerequisites and testing around real deadlines rather than a single annual lottery.
Overview & Why Students Choose Yakima Valley College
Yakima Valley College anchors healthcare workforce training in the Yakima Valley—a region where irrigation-country demographics, seasonal labor patterns, and bilingual care needs shape day-to-day nursing practice. YVC delivers pre-licensure nursing from the Yakima campus with simulation and skills labs (Buildings 22–23) while sending students to partner agencies across the college’s service district.
YVC awards a Practical Nurse certificate, the Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP (ADN) for NCLEX-RN, and—per the catalog—a Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) certificate pathway (including I-BEST). It is not a four-year university: students who want a BSN typically complete the ADN, pass NCLEX-RN, then ladder into Washington RN-to-BSN programs that accept senior-standing transfer agreements YVC references.
For Yakima Valley Community College as listed in state disclosures, ADN (NCLEX-RN) reporting showed 44 first-time passers of 49 first-time test takers in 2025 (89.80%); PN (NCLEX-PN) reporting showed 35 first-time passers of 35 first-time test takers in 2025—note small cohort sizes can swing year to year. Download the current PDF from the Washington program pass rates page and confirm the next data cycle with YVC.
Reasons students choose YVC
Multiple ADN starts plus an LPN ladder
YVC admits ADN cohorts in fall, winter, and spring quarters (contingent on qualified applicants) and runs a winter-start PN program for students who want an earlier licensure stop—or a pathway into LPN-to-RN programs later.
Transparent TEAS scoring and point grid
The Application Process page spells out TEAS minimums, two-year score validity, and how the Adjusted Individual Total Score converts into application points alongside GPA-based prerequisite scoring—reducing guesswork for competitive seats.
ACEN continuing accreditation through 2029
YVC states its associate degree nursing program holds ACEN continuing accreditation and Washington Nursing Commission approval, with a published accreditation horizon of March 2029 on the nursing overview.
SBCTC-priced tuition with published nursing extras
YVC posts SBCTC-set per-credit totals for resident, nonresident waiver, and international rates, plus nursing program checklists estimating uniforms, lab fees, background checks, and NCLEX application expenses.
Nursing Programs Offered
The list reflects credentials YVC publishes on its nursing pages and in the YVC catalog. State board tables label the institution Yakima Valley Community College; marketing uses Yakima Valley College (YVC).
Pre-licensure & entry credentials
Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC)
The catalog lists a Nursing Assistant Certified (I-BEST Opportunities) certificate pairing basic skills support with NA training. Graduates test for Washington NA certification. Confirm schedule and entry with YVC Workforce Education.
Practical Nurse Certificate
Four consecutive quarters after prerequisites; winter start on the Yakima campus, clinicals “throughout the YVC service district,” TEAS category minimums on the PN page, and NCLEX-PN eligibility when coursework is complete.
Associate Degree in Nursing (Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP)
Six-quarter ADN after prerequisites; fall, winter, and spring entries when applicants qualify. YVC lists ACEN continuing accreditation through March 2029 and Washington Nursing Commission approval. This is not a fully online pre-licensure RN program.
University pathways
YVC does not award BSN or graduate nursing degrees. Students planning a four-year BSN without stopping at ADN should follow transfer requirements for Washington universities separately.
YVC does not list a post-licensure RN-to-BSN. Earn RN licensure via ADN, then complete BSN at a partner university.
NCLEX Pass Rates (RN & PN)
Washington’s Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission publishes first-time NCLEX pass rates for approved programs. The February 2026 “Nursing program NCLEX pass rates (PDF)” lists Yakima Valley Community College on the ADN table with 44 first-time passers of 49 first-time test takers for calendar year 2025 (89.80%). Prior years on the same row: 2024 50/53 (94.34%); 2023 36/39 (92.31%); 2022 52/64 (81.25%); 2021 46/52 (88.46%). This page does not compare YVC to a state-average benchmark line because a single consolidated benchmark for all programs was not excerpted here.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time (2025) | 44 of 49 (89.80%), Yakima Valley Community College, per WABON school-reported table |
| NCLEX-RN first-time (2024) | 50 of 53 (94.34%) |
| Source | NCLEX pass rates PDF (Feb. 2026) via Washington program pass rates. Confirm current cohorts with the Commission and YVC. |
NCLEX-PN (Practical Nurse program)
On the PN table in the same PDF, Yakima Valley Community College shows 35 first-time passers of 35 first-time test takers in 2025 (Commission-reported aggregate). For context, 2024 was 34/38 (89.47%). Small annual cohorts mean percentages can shift sharply—treat any one-year rate as a snapshot, not a prediction.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-PN first-time (2025, Commission-reported aggregate) | 35 of 35 first-time test takers passed (Yakima Valley Community College) |
| Source | Same Washington Nursing Commission PDF (Feb. 2026). Confirm updated totals with the Commission and YVC. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and testing year. Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and Yakima Valley College.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
YVC enrolls resident, nonresident waiver, and international students under SBCTC tuition rules; nursing adds clinical clearance, immunization, and background screening that can affect placement. Use this list as orientation only—not legal advice—and confirm every requirement with YVC Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.
- English-language proficiency: Ask YVC whether TOEFL, IELTS, or other scores are required for your visa type and for clinical partners.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Foreign prerequisites must map to YVC’s common course-numbered sciences; plan evaluations early with Admissions.
- Washington Nursing Commission: NCLEX eligibility, endorsement, and reinstatement rules belong to the Commission—use official instructions.
- Immigration & visa: International per-credit totals ($354.55 lower division, 2025–26) differ from resident schedules; verify billing and clinical eligibility before investing in prerequisites.
Policies change frequently. Verify with Yakima Valley College and the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
YVC’s ADN and PN programs are selective: you must be fully admitted to the college (application fee and transcripts evaluated on the timeline YVC describes) before nursing will review your portfolio. ADN seats are allocated through a prioritization and point system (80% GPA-based on nine prerequisite courses, 10% TEAS, 6% health licensure, 2% second language, 2% re-application) effective June 30, 2024 per the Application Process page.
Application timelines (per YVC nursing pages)
| Program / start | Typical window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ADN — fall quarter | Opens May 1 · closes June 30 (4:30 p.m. on the Registered Nursing hub) | Notification by end of July; requires complete immunization proofs uploads. |
| ADN — winter quarter | Opens July 15 · closes Sept. 15 (4:30 p.m.) | Notification by end of October. |
| ADN — spring quarter | Opens Nov. 1 · closes Dec. 20 (overview); Application Process page also references a mid-November spring open—verify Cognito each year. | Notification by end of January. |
| Practical Nurse — winter | Opens Aug. 15 · closes Sept. 15 (4:30 p.m.) | Notification by end of October; separate TEAS minimums from ADN. |
Prerequisites & TEAS (ADN snapshot)
YVC lists required prerequisites including CHEM& 121, MATH& 146, BIOL& 160 (excluded from prerequisite GPA), BIOL& 241/242, BIOL& 260, ENGL& 101 or ENGL 102, NUTR& 101, PSYC& 100, PSYC& 200, plus humanities and communication distributions to finish before NRSE 220/221. Minimum C (2.0) in each prerequisite/support with cumulative 2.5 GPA across prerequisites for ranking.
TEAS (ADN): Required; overall score must meet ATI “Proficient” ≥58.7% with category mins Reading 69%, Math 63.3%, Science 45.8%, English 60%. Scores valid two years through the deadline; only the latest attempt counts; up to 10 application points from Adjusted Individual Total Score ÷ 10.
TEAS (PN): Separate minimums—Reading 47.6%, Math 46.7%, Science 33%, English 40%; points = Adjusted Individual Total Score × 0.2 (max 20) per Practical Nursing page.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed (point-ranked; more applicants than seats) |
| Prerequisite GPA (ADN ranking) | 2.5 cumulative across required courses; BIO 160 excluded from the 80% GPA calculation |
| TEAS | Required for ADN and PN with different cut scores (above) |
| Transfer / second-degree | All transcripts required; courses below C not accepted; students with prior nursing coursework need director review + good-standing letter |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
YVC posts SBCTC-approved per-credit charges and Financial Aid cost of attendance budgets for 2025–26. Nursing students should layer program-specific costs from the nursing “Program Costs and Technology Needs” tables (lab fees near $300 per clinical quarter, background checks, liability insurance, textbooks, NCLEX application estimates, uniforms, and technology) onto baseline tuition.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Per credit (lower division, 2025–26) | WA resident total $147.21; nonresident with waiver $166.19; international nonresident $354.55 (sum of operating, building, student activity, technology, eLearning, and service fees per YVC table) |
| 9-month tuition & fees (COA component, off-campus budget) | Resident $5,529; nonresident with waiver $6,114 (YVC 2025–26 COA table) |
| Full COA example (WA resident, off-campus) | $28,458 including housing, food, transportation, books—financial-aid estimate, not a bill |
| Source | YVC Tuition & Fees; Registered Nursing — program costs. Confirm in ctcLink. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
YVC publishes student achievement data on its nursing outcomes page; for licensure exam metrics, Washington’s Commission tables remain the neutral reference. Yakima County’s healthcare sector includes multi-hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, long-term care, and seasonal agricultural health demands—settings where ADN and PN graduates are routinely employed, though YVC does not publish a single audited job-placement percentage on the pages used here.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time (2025, published) | 44 of 49 (89.80%) — see NCLEX section for PDF citation |
| NCLEX-PN first-time (2025, published aggregate) | 35 of 35 — see NCLEX section |
| Graduate employment rate | Not publicly disclosed as a single audited percentage in the sources used for this guide; review YVC student achievement disclosures and confirm hiring trends with Career Services. |
| Source | YVC student achievement data; WA program pass rates. |
Is Yakima Valley College the Right Fit for You?
YVC fits applicants who can commit to Yakima-based labs and regional clinicals, tolerate competitive point ranking, and want either a PN certificate, an ADN with multiple annual entry points, or a quick NA credential before nursing core.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Prefer a public college with posted TEAS minimums, prerequisite GPA weighting, and multiple ADN starts.
- Want to serve Central Washington’s blended urban–rural patient mix, including Spanish/English care environments.
- Plan to ladder PN → ADN or ADN → BSN using Washington transfer agreements after licensure.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a fully online pre-licensure RN or PN (YVC emphasizes on-campus delivery, simulation, and in-person clinical clearance).
- Expect automatic admission after prerequisites—seats remain competitive despite multiple cohorts.
- Want a four-year BSN without transferring (YVC does not confer the BSN).
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Yakima is a hub for specialty care, community hospitals, and outpatient networks serving a largely agricultural workforce and growing Latino community health needs. YVC states PN clinicals occur at agencies throughout its multi-county service district—not only inside Yakima city limits—so expect travel within the region. Always request the current affiliation list from the nursing office because contracts rotate.
| Facility / system | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Virginia Mason Memorial / MultiCare-affiliated Yakima care sites | Major local acute employers; common destination for graduates seeking hospital med-surg or specialty exposure. |
| Astoria Health (Toppenish) & regional critical-access hospitals | Illustrates the valley’s mix of tribal health systems, rural hospitals, and community outpatient access. |
| FQHCs & community clinics | Primary-care and chronic-disease management sites relevant to ADN community-health competencies. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
YVC nursing faculty and simulation staff list offices in Buildings 22 and 23 on the Yakima campus, with a simulation technician supporting immersive learning. The college highlights Canvas-driven coursework, mandatory webcam proctored exams, and laptop/tablet expectations (Chromebook discouraged). Commuter students balance family and orchard-region jobs, so pathway navigators and the HelpDesk’s device lending options can matter—especially when clinical onboarding deadlines stack against mid-quarter workloads.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Yakima, WA (main nursing instruction)
- Address
- S. 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima, WA 98902, US
- Main telephone
- (509) 574-4600
- Nursing department
- nursing@yvcc.edu · (509) 574-4902
- Website
- yvcc.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Read YVC’s Registered Nursing overview plus the Application Process page; open the correct Cognito form for your entry term.
- Compare transcripts to YVC’s science and general-ed prerequisites; allow ≥4 weeks for official evaluations.
- Schedule TEAS so scores are within the two-year validity window and meet ADN or PN cutoffs (they differ).
- Assemble immunization records using the formats YVC requires—missing documentation invalidates the nursing application.
- Estimate prerequisite GPA without BIOL&160 for ADN ranking; review re-application points if you were not seated previously.
- If Practical Nursing is your goal, confirm the Aug. 15–Sept. 15 window and winter start only.
- Download the latest Washington NCLEX pass rates PDF when planning cohort comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing programs does Yakima Valley College offer?
YVC publishes a six-quarter Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP (ADN) with fall, winter, and spring entry on the Yakima campus; a four-quarter Practical Nurse certificate (NCLEX-PN); and a Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) certificate in the catalog (including I-BEST). YVC does not confer BSN on campus—graduates pursue RN-to-BSN elsewhere after licensure. Confirm titles in the YVC catalog and nursing pages.
What TEAS scores does Yakima Valley College require for ADN admission?
YVC requires ATI TEAS for ADN applicants. As published on the Application Process page, the total score must meet the Proficient level (58.7% or higher) with minimum category cut scores: Reading 69%, Mathematics 63.3%, Science 45.8%, English 60%. TEAS scores are valid two years from the test date through the application deadline; only the most recent attempt counts. Application points use the Adjusted Individual Total Score divided by 10 (up to 10 points). Verify current rules before testing.
What is the NCLEX-RN pass rate for Yakima Valley College?
Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission ADN program pass rate reporting (February 2026 publication) lists Yakima Valley Community College with 44 first-time NCLEX-RN passers out of 49 first-time test takers for calendar year 2025 (89.80%). Prior years in the same table include 2024: 50/53 (94.34%). Confirm the next cohort with the Commission PDF and YVC.
When are Yakima Valley College nursing application deadlines?
For the ADN, YVC’s Registered Nursing hub lists application periods closing June 30 (fall start, opens May 1), September 15 (winter, opens July 15), and December 20 (spring, opens Nov. 1), due by 4:30 p.m. except where the page notes variant times—confirm the Cognito form for your cohort. Practical Nursing uses one winter start: application opens Aug. 15 and closes Sept. 15 by 4:30 p.m., with notification by end of October per YVC.
Does Yakima Valley College offer a Practical Nursing (LPN) program?
Yes. YVC offers a four-quarter Practical Nurse certificate on the Yakima campus with clinicals across the YVC service district, winter-quarter start, and NCLEX-PN eligibility after completion. TEAS minimum category scores for PN differ from ADN; see the Practical Nursing page.
Is Yakima Valley College’s ADN accredited?
YVC states the associate degree nursing program is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing (Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission) and holds ACEN continuing accreditation, with the college listing a decision valid until March 2029 on its nursing page. Confirm status with ACEN and YVC before applying.
What GPA does Yakima Valley College require for nursing prerequisites?
For the ADN, YVC requires at least C (2.0) in each prerequisite and supporting course with a cumulative 2.5 GPA across prerequisites; admission prioritization weights 80% of points from GPA in nine specified prerequisite courses (General Biology excluded from the GPA calculation). Practical Nursing prerequisites require C (2.0) with a cumulative 2.0 unless the PN page states otherwise for a specific cycle.
Does Yakima Valley College offer RN-to-BSN?
No. YVC is a community college offering the ADN, PN certificate, and NAC—not a university RN-to-BSN completion program. YVC states ADN graduates who pass NCLEX-RN meet minimum requirements to enter Washington RN-to-BSN programs with senior standing at participating four-year schools.
What tuition rates does Yakima Valley College publish for 2025–2026?
YVC’s Tuition & Fees page lists lower-division per-credit totals of $147.21 (WA resident), $166.19 (nonresident with waiver), and $354.55 (international nonresident) for 2025–2026, plus a financial aid cost-of-attendance nine-month tuition-and-fees line of $5,529 (resident) and $6,114 (nonresident with waiver). Nursing students also pay program fees, uniforms, immunizations, and background checks per the nursing cost tables. Confirm current charges in ctcLink.
Where does Yakima Valley College nursing hold classes?
Nursing leadership and faculty contacts listed on YVC’s nursing pages reference the Yakima campus (Buildings 22 and 23). Practical Nursing clinicals occur at partner agencies throughout the YVC service district. Always confirm campus and clinical geography with the nursing department.
References
- Yakima Valley College — Registered Nursing overviewyvcc.edu/academics/nursing
- Yakima Valley College — ADN application processyvcc.edu/…/nursing-3.php
- Yakima Valley College — Practical Nursingyvcc.edu/…/practical-nursing.php
- Yakima Valley College — Tuition & Fees (2025–2026)yvcc.edu/financial-aid/tuition-fees
- Washington Nursing Commission — NCLEX pass rates PDF (Feb. 2026)NCLEX-pass-rates.pdf
- Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission — Program pass rates hubnursing.wa.gov/…/program-pass-rates
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)acenursing.org
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for Washington Nursing Commission NCLEX table alignment, YVC TEAS and prerequisite accuracy, and tuition table transcription.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with Yakima Valley College and the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy