||| FROM MARISA PIERCE for SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE |||
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Skagit Valley College (SVC) has announced the approval of its new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program, following a vote by the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges at its Oct. 16 meeting last fall.
The program becomes the college’s seventh bachelor’s degree and marks a significant expansion in educational opportunities for current and future nurses in the region. Enrollment will begin in January 2027.
Designed to support working nurses and nursing students, the RN to BSN program will offer 10 courses focused on research, community health, leadership, and related topics.
According to Dr. Shelley Price, SVC dean of health sciences, courses will be delivered in a Hyflex format, allowing students to participate in person, online synchronously, or online asynchronously.
“This flexible structure is intended to meet the needs of diverse learners across SVC’s broad service area,” said Price.
Students enrolled in SVC’s Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP (ADN) program will have the option to begin BSN coursework concurrently during their third quarter, enabling an accelerated pathway to the bachelor’s degree. Graduates of SVC’s ADN program, as well as nurses trained elsewhere, may also enroll post-ADN.
“The new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will meet a critical workforce need in our region,” said Dr. Darren Greeno, vice president of academic affairs. “Hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities are all seeking qualified nurses to serve a growing and aging population. By offering this program at Skagit Valley College, we are expanding access to high-quality, baccalaureate-level nursing education for people who live and work here in our community.”
SVC has offered nursing education since the 1970s and transitioned to an ADN direct-transfer degree in 2016. The BSN program represents a natural evolution of the college’s longstanding commitment to preparing the region’s healthcare workforce.
“Community colleges play an essential role in preparing the local healthcare workforce, and this new degree ensures that more of our graduates can advance their nursing careers without having to leave the area,” Greeno said. “Ultimately, this means better care for our neighbors and stronger healthcare for our entire region.”
As community colleges across Washington continue expanding bachelor’s degree options, SVC’s new RN to BSN program will help reduce barriers and improve access to advanced nursing education. By supporting current students, returning alumni, and working nurses, the program aims to elevate the level of nursing practice and contribute to improved public health outcomes.
“We are looking forward to serving our current and future students, in addition to our prior ADN graduates,” Price said.
“Growth is exciting.”
To learn more about SVC’s nursing programs, visit skagit.edu/nursing.
Skagit Valley College is making a difference throughout Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties by providing access to higher education for all who seek a better future. Part of what makes our college special is that we are deeply committed to equity in access, achievement, and community. Whether you are training for a new job, beginning your college experience, finishing the degree you started, adding English language skills, or pursuing a high school credential, Skagit Valley College welcomes you.
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