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MARIETTA - Washington State College of Ohio has earned accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing for its Associate Degree Nursing and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
According to a press release from WSCO, the accreditation is a significant achievement for nursing education at the college. The ADN program has consistently produced strong licensure and employment outcomes, while the newer RN-to-BSN program has helped registered nurses continue their education and advance their careers, the release says.
"Earning ACEN accreditation for both our ADN and RN-to-BSN programs is an incredible accomplishment for Washington State and, most importantly, for our students," said Washington State President Sarah Parker. "Our nursing graduates have consistently demonstrated the quality of the education they receive through their success in the classroom, on licensure examinations and in the workforce. This accreditation builds upon that success and creates even more opportunities for our students to advance their education and careers."
ACEN is a specialized accrediting agency for nursing education that evaluates programs through a peer-review process, including curriculum, faculty, student resources, program outcomes and institutional support. Earning accreditation demonstrates that WSCO's ADN and RN-to-BSN programs meet nationally recognized standards for nursing education, says the press release.
Over the past seven reporting years, Washington State's ADN graduates have exceeded both Ohio and national NCLEX-RN pass rates every year, the release says. Graduates achieved 100% NCLEX-RN pass rates in both 2023 and 2024.
In 2025, Washington State graduates achieved a 90.74% pass rate, compared with an Ohio average of 84.04% and national average of 86.71%. The college also reported a 93% job placement rate for its December 2024 ADN graduating class.
"Our students' success has always been one of the strongest measures of the quality of our nursing programs," said Tricia Schaad, Washington State director of nursing. "Our graduates consistently perform above state and national averages on their licensure examinations and go on to build careers throughout our region. ACEN accreditation adds another nationally recognized distinction to that record of excellence."
In 2022, Washington State became one of the first community colleges in Ohio approved to offer a bachelor of science in nursing completion program. The degree can support career advancement into areas such as leadership, management, education and quality improvement while also preparing nurses who want to pursue graduate education, the release says.
The program welcomed its first students in 2023 and celebrated its inaugural graduating class of 12 students in December 2024. Washington State reported 100% job placement for that inaugural cohort and a 100% completion rate for its 2025 cohort.
Together, the ADN and RN-to-BSN programs provide a progression from preparation for RN licensure through completion of a bachelor's degree. Students can begin even earlier through WSCO's Practical Nursing (PN) program.
"Our nursing programs create a pathway that can grow alongside our students," Schaad said. "Students can begin building their careers, gain experience and return to Washington State when they are ready for their next step. That creates opportunities for our students while also helping our region develop and retain the highly skilled nurses our healthcare organizations and communities need."
More information about Washington State’s nursing program is available online at wsco.edu/nursing.