What Is It Known For?
Sumner College began in 1974 in Portland, Oregon, as The Court Reporting Institute. During the 1980s, it expanded beyond court reporting by introducing Legal Secretarial and Paralegal programs and adopted the name College of Legal Arts. After being acquired by Cascade Education, LLC in 2007, the college shifted its focus to healthcare education.
The Practical Nursing program launched in 2009, followed by the Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) in 2012. A decade later, in 2020, Sumner introduced the RN to BSN program and, by 2022, became the first private proprietary school in Oregon authorized to award a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). In 2024, the college opened its second campus in Bend.
Today, Sumner College enrolls 300 to 500 students each year and continues its mission of preparing compassionate, skilled healthcare professionals across Oregon.
Degrees & Certifications
Sumner College concentrates on nursing education, offering programs that span from practical nursing diplomas to bachelor’s degrees. Program lengths vary based on the credential level. The school’s offerings include:
- Practical Nursing Program
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- RN to BSN Program
Class Schedules
Classes run Monday through Friday with day sessions from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and mid-morning sessions from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The college combines classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical experience. Working nurses can also benefit from Sumner College’s 100% online RN to BSN program.
Is It a Good School?
Yes. Sumner College holds institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Acceptance Rate
Sumner College has an acceptance rate of 87%.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
Tuition varies by program per credit hour: Practical Nursing costs $405, RN to BSN costs $180, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing costs $510. For a complete breakdown of attendance costs, students should consult the school’s net price calculator.
Programs & Courses
Healthcare
- RN to BSN
- BSN
- Practical Nursing
Campus Locations
Portland 8338 NE Alderwood Rd Suite 100 Portland, OR 97220
Bend 960 SW Disk Dr Bend, OR 97702
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Sumner College is viewed as a rigorous and effective, but potentially expensive, pathway to a career in nursing, specifically through its ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) and LPN programs. Students who embrace the difficulty generally report a positive experience with caring instructors and feel well-prepared for the NCLEX. However, serious red flags exist regarding the school’s accreditation type and alleged unethical labor practices concerning faculty pay.
Overall Score: 4.2/5 Stars
Common Praises
Rigorously Effective Nursing Program: Graduates state the program’s “challenging” nature is exactly what prepared them to pass the NCLEX and feel “confident practicing safely” in their new career.
Supportive and Caring Instructors: Students consistently praise the instructors for being “dedicated” and “supportive,” with one reviewer noting that the instructors “actually care.”
Smooth Enrollment Process: The admissions and enrollment process is described as making the transition to a full-time nursing student “so much easier.”
Common Criticisms
Accreditation Status: A prominent review warns prospective students that the school is nationally accredited, not regionally accredited. This distinction is critical as it can affect a graduate’s ability to transfer credits or be hired by certain institutions.
Alleged Unethical Labor Practices: A serious complaint was raised that the school allegedly does not pay instructors for prep work, only for time spent directly with students. This raises concerns about the quality of instruction and the overall educational environment.
Poor Graduation Venue: One parent review expressed extreme disappointment with the graduation ceremony’s venue, citing horrible sound quality and a distracting environment that detracted from the students’ accomplishments.
Momentum
The positive reviews suggest that the core academic function of the Nursing program is successful (getting students NCLEX-ready). However, the negative momentum generated by the accreditation warning and the faculty pay complaint casts a large shadow over the institution’s long-term reputation and financial practices. Prospective students must do significant due diligence regarding the implications of the national vs. regional accreditation status for their career goals.