Walla Walla University has received official approval from the Washington State Board of Nursing to offer a full Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program on its College Place campus, expanding student access to nursing education while strengthening clinical training options across both rural and urban healthcare settings.
The approval formally establishes a dual-campus model that allows students to complete upper-division nursing coursework at either the College Place campus or WWU’s Portland campus. Together, the two campuses offer a comprehensive range of clinical experiences designed to prepare graduates for the full scope of modern nursing practice.
Rather than a single required pathway, the program now offers students the ability to align their clinical education with their professional interests—whether that means preparing to serve in community-anchored healthcare environments across a range of clinical settings or pursuing expanded specialty experiences available within larger, urban hospital systems.
“This approval allows us to be much more intentional about how we prepare nurses,” said Kari Firestone, dean and professor of the School of Nursing. “Students don’t all have the same goals, and now our program better reflects that reality.”
The College Place campus offers a broad-based clinical education rooted in community-anchored learning while providing experience across inpatient, outpatient, and higher-acuity care settings. Students completing their clinical education in the Walla Walla Valley and surrounding communities engage in hands-on training in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare environments, gaining experience in both acute and ongoing care contexts while developing strong relationships with local healthcare teams.
“These students are preparing to become the nurses our region needs so badly,” Firestone said. “When students complete their clinical education in smaller communities, they build strong relationships and often choose to stay. That’s good for patients, good for healthcare partners, and essential for community health.”
The Portland campus offers access to specialized clinical training available within large, complex healthcare systems. Students interested in advanced acute care, specialty units, and high-acuity clinical environments benefit from exposure to diverse patient populations and specialty-focused practice areas that support a wide range of nursing career paths.
“Portland remains a critical part of our program,” Firestone said. “It provides specialty clinical experiences that are not available everywhere, and for many students, those opportunities are central to how they envision their future in nursing.”
Regardless of campus, all students complete the same BSN curriculum, clinical hours, and licensure preparation. The program operates as a single, unified degree with shared faculty oversight, standardized assessment, and consistent expectations for professional readiness. Instruction across both campuses is supported by upgraded classroom technology designed to foster connection and collaboration among students and faculty.
In addition to expanded clinical options, the program reflects Walla Walla University’s longstanding commitment to individualized education and strong faculty-student relationships. Small class sizes and low student-to-faculty ratios allow faculty to mentor students closely, helping them shape capstone projects and clinical experiences that align with their goals and interests.
“This isn’t about becoming something new,” Firestone said. “It’s about offering pathways that reflect the full range of nursing practice while staying grounded in who we’ve always been and what matters most—our students.”
The first College Place upper-division BSN cohort is expected to begin as part of a phased implementation during the 2026–27 academic year.
To learn more about the School of Nursing and its programs, visit wallawalla.edu/nursing.
Posted Feb. 13, 2026
