A Complete Guide to Colleges in Washington

Colleges in Washington have a bit of everything, from the prestige of UW to the selectivity of Whitman. Here's your guide to all of them.
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Updated June 2, 2023 · 4 Min Read

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10 Popular Colleges in Washington

We've highlighted a handful of colleges in Washington we think you should consider based on factors such as prestige, selectivity, and enrollment size.

All school data below comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Tuition and fees are from 2022-2023, while acceptance rates, enrollment statistics, net prices, and number of applicants are from 2021.

List of All Washington Colleges and Universities

The following table contains a list of all four-year nonprofit colleges in Washington. Also included is each school's average net cost, acceptance rate, enrollment size, and number of applicants based on the latest NCES data.

All Colleges in Washington
School Total Student Enrollment Avg. Annual Net Price Acceptance Rate Number of Applicants
Antioch University-Seattle 779 N/A N/A N/A
Bastyr University 751 N/A N/A N/A
Bellevue College 11,546 $9,801 N/A N/A
Bellingham Technical College 1,915 $3,799 N/A N/A
Big Bend Community College 1,778 $7,791 N/A N/A
Cascadia College 1,996 $8,338 N/A N/A
Central Washington University 10,176 $17,645 88% 10,767
Centralia College 2,153 $9,572 N/A N/A
City University of Seattle 1,996 N/A N/A N/A
Clark College 6,921 $8,640 N/A N/A
Clover Park Technical College 2,846 $8,701 N/A N/A
Columbia Basin College 6,089 $10,151 N/A N/A
Cornish College of the Arts 455 $38,109 64% 666
Eastern Washington University 10,892 $13,650 97% 4,232
Edmonds College 5,606 $9,572 N/A N/A
Faith International University 291 $20,232 N/A N/A
Gonzaga University 7,381 $35,529 76% 8,853
Grays Harbor College 1,469 $11,629 N/A N/A
Great Northern University 25 $27,310 100% 4
Green River College 6,559 $9,324 N/A N/A
Heritage University 898 $7,976 N/A N/A
Highline College 4,951 $9,882 N/A N/A
Lake Washington Institute of Technology 3,240 $10,854 N/A N/A
Lower Columbia College 2,164 $8,171 N/A N/A
North Seattle College 4,887 $6,220 N/A N/A
Northwest Indian College 622 $5,250 N/A N/A
Northwest University 1,083 $23,169 96% 473
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education 1,323 $22,863 N/A N/A
Olympic College 4,999 $11,477 N/A N/A
Pacific Lutheran University 2,706 $23,568 88% 3,220
Peninsula College 1,702 $5,552 N/A N/A
Pierce College District 7,363 $7,370 N/A N/A
Renton Technical College 3,097 $6,875 N/A N/A
Saint Martin's University 1,616 $23,964 72% 2,653
Seattle Central College 4,698 $7,433 N/A N/A
Seattle Pacific University 3,443 $26,153 92% 4,359
Seattle University 7,268 $36,671 82% 8,539
Skagit Valley College 3,891 $9,200 N/A N/A
South Seattle College 4,893 $7,547 N/A N/A
Spokane Community College 6,890 $5,198 N/A N/A
Spokane Falls Community College 3,805 $8,753 N/A N/A
Tacoma Community College 5,359 $8,606 N/A N/A
The Evergreen State College 2,116 $16,155 99% 1,111
University of Puget Sound 2,173 $28,221 88% 5,025
University of Washington-Bothell Campus 6,052 $7,577 83% 4,423
University of Washington-Seattle Campus 52,434 $8,701 53% 48,840
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus 5,027 $10,310 83% 2,233
Walla Walla Community College 3,084 $9,301 N/A N/A
Walla Walla University 1,584 $25,421 N/A N/A
Washington State University 29,843 $11,877 86% 18,197
Wenatchee Valley College 2,661 $8,226 N/A N/A
Western Washington University 15,125 $11,388 96% 10,580
Whatcom Community College 3,850 $9,450 N/A N/A
Whitman College 1,559 $35,627 59% 5,155
Whitworth University 2,681 $27,438 91% 3,944
Whitworth University-Adult Degree Programs 227 N/A N/A N/A
Yakima Valley College 3,643 $9,475 N/A N/A

Source: NCES

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Washington

Are there any good colleges in Washington?

Washington has several nationally ranked institutions, including the University of Washington, Whitman College, and Gonzaga University. All three consistently rank among the top 200 schools in the country and among the top 25 in the Far West.

UW is a large public research university known for its STEM programs, whereas Whitman is a private liberal arts school in Walla Walla with rigorous academics. Gonzaga is a private Jesuit university in Spokane known for its holistic liberal arts education.

How many Washington state colleges are there?

There are nearly 60 colleges in Washington that award at least a bachelor's degree. There are six public four-year colleges and universities, 18 private nonprofit schools, four private for-profit schools, and 30 junior and public colleges in Washington, according to NCES data.

What is the prettiest college in Washington state?

Many would agree that the University of Washington has one of the prettiest campuses in the state. You're unlikely to find a campus rankings list that doesn't include UW's flagship campus in Seattle.

Suzzallo Library is one of UW's most recognizable buildings, built in the Collegiate Gothic style. The library features hand-carved friezes and 35-foot stained glass window panels.

Arguably the most iconic location on campus, however, is the Liberal Arts Quadrangle — known colloquially as the Quad — where 30 Yoshino cherry trees bloom each spring, drawing thousands of visitors from across the region.

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