Best Colleges in Washington State (2023 Rankings)

Thinking of applying for enrollment in one of Washington's top colleges? If so, then you've come to the right place to check out the state's best institutes of higher learning (in no particular order), from large public universities to small private schools!

Be sure to check out our FAQs, where we'll also introduce you to some of the state's best vocational and community colleges that offer solid two-year programs.

University of Washington, Seattle

In-state Tuition: $11,745

Out-of-state Tuition: $39,114

Fast facts:

• 32,244 undergraduate students
• 56% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 67% (4-year), 82% (6-year)

Let's kick things off with Seattle's University of Washington (UW), a highly-ranked public research university that sprawls across a gorgeous 700-acre campus. Known for its state-of-the-art medical center and 280+ research centers, UW boasts 7 Nobel Prize winners among its faculty.

Students enjoy a massive selection of 180+ undergraduate majors and 300+ graduate programs, including over 100 doctoral degrees. While the University of Washington is particularly well-known for its cutting-edge healthcare programs, UW has got you covered whether you want to study Architecture, Art, Law, Medicine, or anything in between.

Home of the Huskies sports teams, UW makes it easy to get involved on campus with nearly 1,000 student organizations and a variety of Greek chapters. Head over to UW Rec to discover amazing recreational options like a 5,000 square feet climbing center, waterfront activities, yoga and martial arts classes, and more.

You might also like: University of Washington, Tacoma

Whitman College, Walla Walla

Tuition: $50,408

Fast facts:

• 1,360 undergraduate students
• 54% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 79% (4-year), 86% (6-year)

Whitman College is a small private liberal arts college in the historic town of Walla Walla in the Blue Mountains. With an undergrad student population of under 1,500, you'll benefit from smaller class sizes and plenty of individualized attention.

Choose from nearly 35 majors, including Film and Media Studies, Geology, and Economics. Explore student life at Whitman by joining one of the school's eight Greek chapters or visit the WhitLife portal to check out over 100 student clubs and organizations.

You might also like: Walla Walla University, Walla Walla  

Seattle University

Tuition: $48,390

Fast facts:

• 4,244 undergraduate students
• 83% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 62% (4-year), 73% (6-year)

While Seattle University (SU) is a private Jesuit Catholic university, rest assured that students of all faiths and philosophies are welcome. SU offers over 120 academic programs, an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and an average class size of 18 students.

Choose from bachelor's degrees in majors like Computer Science, Pre-Law, Pre-Med, and Criminal Justice, or explore SU's impressive selection of master's degrees. Get involved with one of over 175 student organizations and enjoy a college experience where you'll find plenty of emotional and spiritual support.

You might also like: Bastyr University, Seattle

Gonzaga University, Spokane

Tuition: $46,920

Fast facts:

• 4,852 undergraduate students
• 73% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 77% (4-year), 88% (6-year)

Gonzaga University is another great private Catholic school that embraces spiritual and philosophical diversity. While the school offers daily mass, it also offers non-denominational worship, an Islamic prayer center, and a health and counseling center.

Gonzaga is all about helping students find and pursue their personal passion, whether it be fighting for social justice, innovative healthcare, or creating a more sustainable future. Gonzaga also offers a great selection of master's and doctoral degree programs to choose from.

You might also like: Saint Martin's University, Lacey

Washington State University, Pullman

In-state Tuition: $12,170

Out-of-state Tuition: $27,113

Fast facts:

• 25,470 undergraduate students
• 80% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 37% (4-year), 59% (6-year)

Washington State University-Pullman is both the largest and oldest of WSU's six campuses. A large public school known for its dedication to research, WSU offers over 200 undergraduate programs and 140+ graduate degree programs.

WSU offers an impressive 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 15 NCAA Division 1 sports teams (Go Cougars!), and a diverse campus known for being both military and LGBTQ+ friendly. Get involved with your choice of over 400 student clubs and organizations, or join one of over 60 Greek chapters on campus.

You might also like: Washington State University, Vancouver

University of Washington, Bothell

In-state Tuition: $11,649

Out-of-state Tuition: $39,018

Fast facts:

• 5,659 undergraduate students
• 88% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 42% (4-year), 63% (6-year)

At the University of Washington-Bothell, you'll enjoy the stellar higher education opportunities that UW is known for, all while enjoying a smaller, more intimate college experience. UW-Bothell offers a diverse student population, 55+ degree programs, and a killer financial aid department that managed to help 66% of 2021-22 undergrad students graduate debt-free!

Among the many majors offered at UW-Bothell, you'll find several interdisciplinary options to choose from. This can be a great choice if you want to chart your own course in an interdisciplinary field like Social Science or the Arts.

You might also like: Evergreen State College, Olympia

Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma

Tuition: $46,850

Fast facts:

• 2,544 undergraduate students
• 86% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 63% (4-year), 71% (6-year)

As you may have guessed from the name, Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) is a private Lutheran school. PLU has produced no fewer than 108 Fulbright Scholars since 1975, offers a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and offers great international programs.

Choose from over 70 areas of study ranging from Political Science or Communication to Theatre or Gender, Sexuality, and Race Studies. PLU even offers students the opportunity to design their own individualized major with the help of a faculty mentor.

You might also like: Whitworth University, Spokane

Seattle Pacific University, Seattle

Tuition: $47,244

Fast facts:

• 2,702 undergraduate students
• 91% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 51% (4-year), 65% (6-year)

Seattle Pacific University is a private four-year Christian school that's located in Seattle's popular Queen Anne Hill neighborhood. Students enjoy a choice of 70 undergraduate majors, including popular choices like Psychology, Nursing, and Computer Science.

The university also offers 26 master's degree programs, five doctoral degree programs, and several great accelerated master's degrees for teachers that can be completed in one year. Cheer on the SPU Falcons sports teams or get involved with one of the 50+ student clubs you'll find on campus!

You might also like: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma

Western Washington University, Bellingham

In-state Tuition: $8,508

Out-of-state Tuition: $25,266

Fast facts:

• 14,194 undergraduate students
• 94% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 38% (4-year), 68% (6-year)

Western Washington University (WWU) is a public college that offers both undergraduate and graduate research opportunities. Home of the Vikings sports teams, WWU has a great collection of over 200 academic programs ranging from Art or Advocacy to Journalism or Urban Planning.

Sign up for an in-person visit to the beautiful campus or an hour-long student-led virtual tour. Get involved with one of over 300 student clubs and organizations or check out the latest events happening both on and off campus!

You might also like: Northwest University, Kirkland

Central Washington University, Ellensburg

In-state Tuition: $8,444

Out-of-state Tuition: $24,520

Fast facts:

• 10,518 undergraduate students
• 86% acceptance rate
• Graduation rate: 34% (4-year), 58% (6-year)

Central Washington University is a public four-year university located in the historic city of Ellensburg. Home of the NCAA Division II Wildcats sports teams, CWU offers over 135 majors, including high-ranking programs such as Music, Geology, Business, Education, and STEM.

With average class sizes of around 20 students and over 125 student clubs and organizations, you'll have no problem finding your crew among the mid-size student population. If you're interested in online colleges, CWU is also a great one to check out. It offers a solid collection of distance and hybrid learning opportunities.

You might also like: Eastern Washington University, Cheney

Washington State colleges FAQ

What's the best community college in Washington State?

Washington has many great community colleges, including Walla Walla Community College, Green River College in Auburn, and Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. 

What is the hardest College to get into in Washington State?

Technically, Whitman College has the lowest acceptance rate at 54%. But it's a lot smaller than the University of Washington-Seattle, which comes in second with a 56% acceptance rate.

Find the perfect Washington State school with College Rover

Washington State has plenty of great colleges to choose from! College Rover makes it easy to find and compare the best colleges and programs for you, all in one place. Use our customizable search filters to look for schools that match your preferences or compare your top choices side-by-side with our college comparison tool.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.