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Why This Matters

  • 68 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN WASHINGTON STATE

    According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in the Evergreen State include 42 public and 26 private non-profit options.

  • $11,125 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in Washington is $11,125, according to College Board.

  • $15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID

    In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.

Our Research

This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in Washington. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) — this  organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the northwestern United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

Online College Programs That Might Interest You

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

The Top 50 Colleges in Washington State

Best Colleges In Washington
01

University of Washington
01

Gonzaga University
01

Whitman College
01

Western Washington University
01

Seattle University
01

University of Washington - Bothell
01

University of Washington - Tacoma
01

Washington State University
01

University of Puget Sound
01

Centralia College
01

Eastern Washington University
01

Northwest University
01

Pacific Lutheran University
01

Walla Walla University
01

Whitworth University
01

Seattle Pacific University
01

Bellevue College
01

Central Washington University
01

North Seattle College
01

Highline College
01

Saint Martin's University
01

Lake Washington Institute of Technology
01

City University of Seattle
01

Heritage University
01

The Evergreen State College

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What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Washington State

Location is an important factor to consider when choosing where to study and begin a career. As of May 2022, the five largest industries in the state of Washington are office and administrative support occupations, sales, food preparation and serving, transportation and material moving, and business and financial operations.

Also, the fastest-growing jobs for workers in Washington with a bachelor’s degree are information security analysts, special effects artists, market research analysts, film and video editors, and web developers.

To get an even better sense of your future employment opportunities, take a look at the top employers in the state. Some of the largest employers in Washington include Boeing, Microsoft, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Schweitzer Engineering Labs, and Costco.

What’s Next?

Federal and state assistance can make your four-year college education much more affordable. Here is a list of resources to help you understand the different types of financial aid available and how to apply:

  • Washington Student Achievement Council (WASC). WASC ensures educational access through needs-based, merit-based, and workforce programs at participating colleges. This includes the particularly generous Washington College Grant (WCG).
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
  • CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.

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