| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public community college in the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) system; campus-based, with some online and hybrid courses; quarter calendar |
| Campuses | 3 in Washington: Mount Vernon (main), the Whidbey Island Campus in Oak Harbor and the Marine Technology Center in Anacortes |
| Credentials | Micro-certificates, certificates, associate degrees (AAS and transfer) and bachelor’s degrees (BAS and a B.S. in Computer Science) |
| Accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), associate and bachelor’s level, since 1948 |
| Federal aid | Yes |
| 2026-27 tuition | $136.14 per credit for Washington residents (lower division), plus about $30 per credit in fees |
| Students | 7,999 headcount and 3,944 full-time-equivalent students in 2024-25 (SBCTC) |
| Founded | 1926 as Mount Vernon Junior College; named Skagit Valley College in 1957 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Skagit Valley College: a public college in Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor and Anacortes
Skagit Valley College (SVC) is a public two-year college in Washington’s community and technical college system that also awards bachelor’s degrees: several BAS degrees and, since 2023, a B.S. in Computer Science. It began in 1926 as Mount Vernon Junior College, became Skagit Valley Junior College in 1948 and took its current name in 1957. The permanent Mount Vernon campus opened in September 1959, and 2026 is the college’s centennial year.
In 2024-25 the college counted 7,999 students from all sources and 3,944 full-time-equivalent students, according to the SBCTC. Its timeline lists it as a Hispanic-Serving Institution from 2025. Besides the three campuses, SVC runs the San Juan Center in Friday Harbor and teaches craft brewing at the Cardinal Craft Brewing Academy in Burlington.
Career programs at Skagit Valley College
Almost every career program is taught at the Mount Vernon campus; the marine programs are in Anacortes, and Oak Harbor adds EMT from fall 2026. Credit totals below come from the college’s program pages, or from Career Bridge, Washington’s program directory, where noted. All lower-division programs share the same per-credit tuition (see below).
| Program | Credential | Length | Where | Prepares for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | AAS (ADN) | 4-5 quarters of nursing courses; Career Bridge: 99 credits | Mount Vernon; in person, full-time | NCLEX-RN |
| Nursing Assistant | Certificate, 7 credits | About 1 quarter | Mount Vernon | NNAAP exams, WA NA-C |
| Medical Assistant | AAS, 93 credits; certificate, 88 | About 7 quarters | Mount Vernon, some online | CMA (AAMA), WA MA-C |
| Medical Billing and Coding | AAS, 93 credits; certificate, 88 | About 7 quarters | Mount Vernon, some online | CPC (AAPC) |
| Pharmacy Technician | Certificate, 69 credits | About 6 quarters full-time | Mount Vernon; in person | PTCB (CPhT), WA licensure |
| Dental Therapy | AAS | 3 years (9 quarters); summer start | Mount Vernon and the Swinomish clinic, La Conner | Dental therapist (CODA-accredited program) |
| EMT | Basic and Enhanced micro-certificates | About 3 months each | Mount Vernon; Oak Harbor from fall 2026 | NREMT EMT practical exam |
| Fire Protection Technology | AAS | Career Bridge: 18 months; fall entry | Mount Vernon | IFSAC testing |
| Automotive Technology | AAS, 116 credits; certificates | 6 quarters | Mount Vernon | ASE master-level accredited program |
| Diesel Power Technology | AAS, 99 credits | Career Bridge: 2 years | Mount Vernon | – |
| Welding Technology | AAS, 104 credits; certificates | Specialty certificates 6-9 months | Mount Vernon | WABO, AWS Entry-Level Welder |
| Advanced Manufacturing and Design | BAS; AAS, 99 credits; certificate | AAS 2 years | Mount Vernon | – |
| Marine Maintenance Technology | AAS, 101 credits; two certificates | AAS 2 years; certificates 1 year | Anacortes | ABYC, NMEA, OSHA, EPA tests on site |
| Culinary Arts / Baking & Pastry | AAS (two emphases); certificates | AAS 2 years | Mount Vernon | – |
Programmatic accreditation: ACEN for the Registered Nursing AAS, CODA for Dental Therapy, CAAHEP for Medical Assistant and the ASE Education Foundation (master level) for Automotive Technology. Welding takes part in the AWS Entry-Level Welder program and has a WABO-approved test lab. Other programs include Early Childhood Education (certificates through a BAS), Business Management and Entrepreneurship, Data Management and Analytics, Multimedia & Interactive Technology, Human Services with Substance Use Disorder Counseling, Environmental Conservation and a Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy. An RN to BSN starts in Winter 2027. Costs are on the college’s tuition and fees page, and the full list of programs is on its areas of study page.
What the main programs cover
Registered Nursing (AAS)
The nursing courses take 4 to 5 quarters, depending on the entry point, and students can enter in fall, winter or spring. The program is in person and full-time at Mount Vernon, with clinical placements in Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish and Island counties. Licensed practical nurses can join through the LPN License Holders pathway with advanced placement. Graduates sit the NCLEX-RN. A transfer version, the Associate in Nursing DTA/MRP, suits students heading to a university, and the college’s own RN to BSN begins in Winter 2027.
Welding Technology
The 104-credit AAS sits on top of a ladder of shorter awards: the Welding Technology Certificate, specialty certificates in aluminum, flux-cored (FCAW) and shielded metal arc (SMAW) welding that take 6 to 9 months, a WABO certification option and micro-certificates. The college takes part in the American Welding Society’s Entry-Level Welder program, and its WABO-approved test lab lets students test for WABO certification at Mount Vernon, on the campus where they train.
Automotive Technology
The AAS is 116 credits over six quarters, and the program is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation at the master level. Students who want a narrower credential can take the Engine Performance Specialist or Parts & Service Specialist certificate, or micro-certificates in automotive electrical, engine machining, transmissions and undercar systems. Diesel Power Technology, a separate 99-credit AAS, is taught on the same Mount Vernon campus for students who want to work on diesel engines.
Marine Maintenance Technology
Marine training is at the Marine Technology Center in Anacortes, the college’s only marine site. The two-year AAS is 101 credits; the Marine Electrical Technician and Marine Mechanical Technician certificates take one year each. Students can take ABYC, NMEA, OSHA and EPA tests on site, and the program adds forklift and manufacturer training. The college says out-of-state tuition waivers are available for the marine program, so students from outside Washington should ask about them before comparing costs.
Medical Assistant
Students choose a 93-credit AAS or an 88-credit certificate, each about seven quarters, with core medical-assisting courses starting in winter and some courses online. The program is accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of MAERB and prepares students for the AAMA’s CMA exam and Washington’s MA-C credential. It ends with a practicum that the college assigns, so students do not have to find their own placement. Medical Billing and Coding follows the same seven-quarter pattern.
Fire Protection Technology and EMT
The Fire Protection Technology AAS follows the national FESHE curriculum, with IFSAC testing coordinated by the Washington State Patrol, and is taught in the Fire Technology Building opened in 2024. About 30 students start each fall, first come, first served, after a background and driving-record check and a medical letter. Basic and Enhanced EMT micro-certificates take about three months each and end with the NREMT practical exam. Fire graduates can continue to a Pierce College BAS.
Tuition and how students pay
The 2026-27 rates apply from fall 2026 through summer 2027. Washington has no in-district rate: all residents pay the state rate. Bachelor’s (upper-division) courses cost more than certificate and associate courses.
| 2026-27, per credit (1-10 credits), tuition only | WA resident | Out of state | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower division (certificates, associate degrees) | $136.14 | $204.19 | $350.12 |
| Upper division (bachelor’s courses, 300 level and above) | $264.21 | $398.27 | $742.23 |
Mandatory fees add about $30 per credit, partly capped: $300 at 10 credits and $424.50 at 15. A Washington resident taking 15 lower-division credits pays $2,121.80 a quarter with fees, or about $6,365 for a three-quarter year. Active-duty students on Tuition Assistance pay a qualified-military rate of $106.35 per credit (lower division). Some programs add course fees, listed in the catalog; see tuition and fees.
| 2026-27, one quarter at 15 credits, tuition plus mandatory fees | WA resident | Out of state | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower division | $2,121.80 | $2,836.43 | $4,305.35 |
| Upper division | $3,134.95 | $4,480.73 | $7,920.30 |
Skagit Valley College takes federal student aid, and 36% of its students received need-based aid in 2024-25, according to the SBCTC. Washington’s Worker Retraining and I-BEST programs also serve SVC students. Veterans Education Offices at Mount Vernon and on Whidbey Island handle the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33, including transferred benefits) and Chapter 35.
Open admission, with selective entry for some health and fire programs
SVC admits applicants openly, but several programs have their own entry steps. Nursing admits cohorts in fall, winter and spring. Fire Protection takes about 30 students each fall, first come, first served, with a background check, driving-record check and medical letter. Dental Therapy needs 50 hours of dental experience and starts in summer; the window for summer 2027 opened in September 2026. Pharmacy Technician requires immunizations, a background check and a drug screen.
The college runs on quarters; fall 2026 classes began on 22 September. Courses are offered on campus, online and in hybrid formats, and allied-health core courses start in winter.
Accreditation and results
Skagit Valley College has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) since 1948, at the associate and bachelor’s levels. NWCCU’s directory lists no sanction; the last review was the Spring 2025 Evaluation of Institutional Effectiveness, and an ad hoc report is due in Spring 2027. The nursing program is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing and accredited by ACEN.
| Measure | Result | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, NCLEX-RN pass rate | 93.75% (2021), 92.50% (2022), 95.59% (2023), 96.77% (2024), 95.31% (2025) | Washington State Board of Nursing NCLEX school report, February 2026; first-time status not stated |
| Registered Nursing, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate | 95.31% (program’s expected level: at least 80%) | 2025, college nursing page |
| Registered Nursing, program completion | 61.33% within 100% of program length (program’s target: over 75%) | 2025, college nursing page |
| Medical Assistant, job placement and exam passing | 77.46% placement; 76.92% national exam pass | Five-year averages for 2020-2024 graduates, MAERB definitions, college program page |
| Graduation rate, whole college | 36% | Federal data shown by Niche; cohort year not stated |
NCLEX-RN pass rates have stayed above 92% every year from 2021 to 2025. The completion rate is the weaker number: in 2025 the ADN program’s 61.33% was below its own target of more than 75%.
Before you enroll
- There is no practical nursing (LPN) program. The nursing route is the RN AAS, with an entry pathway for students who already hold an LPN license.
- Dental Therapy is not dental assisting. It is a three-year AAS for dental therapists, a different job, and the college has no dental assisting program.
- The college has no electrician program. Its only electrical credential is the Marine Electrical Technician certificate in Anacortes.
- Oak Harbor offers transfer classes and, from fall 2026, EMT. Nursing and the trade programs are at Mount Vernon, and marine programs only in Anacortes.
- Career Bridge lists most SVC programs as not offered in the evening or at weekends, so check the schedule before planning around a day job.
Three campuses: what each teaches
| Campus | Address | What is taught there |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon (main) | 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 | Nursing and allied health, dental therapy, automotive, diesel, welding, manufacturing, fire and EMT, culinary, business, computer science, data analytics, early childhood education |
| Whidbey Island Campus | 1900 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA 98277 | Transfer and arts-and-sciences classes, student services, veterans office; EMT from fall 2026 |
| Marine Technology Center | 1606 R. Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221 | Marine Maintenance Technology AAS, Marine Electrical and Marine Mechanical Technician certificates |
The San Juan Center in Friday Harbor is not listed as a campus here because Career Bridge lists no program there. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community dental clinic in La Conner is a partner clinic for Dental Therapy training, not an SVC campus.
Housing, childcare and testing on campus
Mount Vernon has a residence hall, Campus View Village, opened in 1990, and an on-campus childcare center opened in 2022. Certification tests can be taken where students train: welders at the WABO test lab, marine students at the Anacortes center (ABYC and NMEA) and EMT students through the NREMT practical exam.
What students say
On Niche, Skagit Valley College is rated 3.9 out of 5 from 359 reviews, with an overall grade of B- (checked 12 October 2026). Reviewers praise a welcoming, supportive atmosphere, dedicated instructors and helpful advisors, small classes, the Running Start program and online options that suit working students. Complaints include limited student life, trouble getting needed classes, administrative frustrations and slow replies from some online instructors, along with parking, Wi-Fi, a residence hall without a meal plan and vehicle break-ins in dorm parking. The reviews cover the whole college, and we did not check when they were posted or whether the college invited them.
Sources
Checked October 2026: NWCCU directory · SVC tuition and fees 2026-27 · SVC nursing program outcomes · Washington State Board of Nursing NCLEX school reports · SBCTC Field Guide 2026 · Career Bridge · SVC centennial timeline · Niche
Programs & Courses
Nursing and Health
- Registered Nursing (AAS/ADN)
- RN to BSN (starts Winter 2027)
- Nursing Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Pharmacy Technician
- Dental Therapy (AAS)
Public Safety
- Fire Protection Technology (AAS)
- EMT (Basic and Enhanced)
- Park Ranger Law Enforcement Academy
Trades and Manufacturing
- Automotive Technology
- Diesel Power Technology
- Welding Technology
- Advanced Manufacturing and Design (AAS and BAS)
- Multi-Occupational Trades (for registered apprentices)
Marine (Anacortes)
- Marine Maintenance Technology
- Marine Electrical Technician
- Marine Mechanical Technician
Food and Beverage
- Culinary Arts
- Baking & Pastry
- Craft Brewing
Business
- Business Management (AAS) / BAS in Management
- Entrepreneurship
Computing and Media
- Computer Science (B.S.)
- Data Management and Analytics
- Multimedia & Interactive Technology
Education and Human Services
- Early Childhood Education (certificates, AAS, BAS)
- Education Paraprofessional
- Human Services / Substance Use Disorder Counseling
Environment
- Environmental Conservation (AAS and BAS)
Campus Locations
Mount Vernon, WA 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Oak Harbor, WA 1900 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Anacortes, WA 1606 R. Avenue, Anacortes, WA 98221