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    Colleges Top Colleges in Washington State
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    Top Colleges in Washington State

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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    Updated: June 6th, 2024

    If you’re considering Washington colleges, you’re in good company. The state of Washington has strong educational grant programs, unparalleled access to nature and wildlife, not to mention a wide variety of great institutions. The University of Washington offers a great university experience in the city of Seattle, whereas Whitman College offers the opposite; an intimate liberal arts education in the small town of Walla Walla. Whether you’re looking for one of these extremes or somewhere in between, be sure to check out the Washington colleges below to see if your perfect match awaits.

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    Washington state flag

    Top college scholarships for
    Washington Students

    $1,877,000 in scholarships available
    Scholarships360 is recommended by
    18 colleges
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    W

    University of Washington-Seattle Campus

    Seattle, WA • Public, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    The University of Washington (UW) is a public research university in Seattle, recognized for its strong programs in medicine, engineering, and computer science. As one of the oldest universities on…Read More

    The University of Washington (UW) is a public research university…Read More

    48% acceptance
    84% graduation rate
    30,931 undergrads
    $13,404 net price
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    W

    University of Washington-Bothell Campus

    Bothell, WA • Public, Suburb

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    University of Washington-Bothell Campus is a public 4-year college located in Bothell, Washington. There are currently 5,166 undergraduates at UW Bothell and the school’s acceptance rate is 88%. The tuition…Read More

    University of Washington-Bothell Campus is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    88% acceptance
    69% graduation rate
    5,166 undergrads
    $10,495 net price
    G

    Gonzaga University

    Spokane, WA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Gonzaga University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Spokane, Washington. There are currently 5,018 undergraduates at Gonzaga and the school’s acceptance rate is 70%. The tuition at Gonzaga…Read More

    Gonzaga University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    70% acceptance
    88% graduation rate
    5,018 undergrads
    $34,331 net price
    W

    Whitman College

    Walla Walla, WA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Whitman College, located in Walla Walla, Washington, is a private liberal arts college known for its access to natural beauty and the annual Renaissance Faire hosted on campus.

    Whitman College, located in Walla Walla, Washington, is a private…Read More

    48% acceptance
    90% graduation rate
    1,472 undergrads
    $35,627 net price
    W

    Western Washington University

    Bellingham, WA • Public, City

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Western Washington University is a public 4-year college located in Bellingham, Washington. There are currently 13,686 undergraduates at Western Washington and the school’s acceptance rate is 93%. The tuition at…Read More

    Western Washington University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    93% acceptance
    65% graduation rate
    13,686 undergrads
    $18,373 net price
    W

    Washington State University

    Pullman, WA • Public, Town

    Washington State University is a public 4-year college located in Pullman, Washington. There are currently 22,265 undergraduates at Washington State and the school’s acceptance rate is 83%. The tuition at…Read More

    Washington State University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    83% acceptance
    62% graduation rate
    22,265 undergrads
    $15,484 net price
    P

    University of Puget Sound

    Tacoma, WA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    University of Puget Sound is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Tacoma, Washington. There are currently 1,712 undergraduates at Puget Sound and the school’s acceptance rate is 83%. The…Read More

    University of Puget Sound is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

    83% acceptance
    76% graduation rate
    1,712 undergrads
    $37,164 net price
    P

    Pacific Lutheran University

    Tacoma, WA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Pacific Lutheran University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Tacoma, Washington. There are currently 2,253 undergraduates at PLU and the school’s acceptance rate is 89%. The tuition at…Read More

    Pacific Lutheran University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    89% acceptance
    72% graduation rate
    2,253 undergrads
    $22,699 net price
    W

    Whitworth University

    Spokane, WA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Whitworth University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Spokane, Washington. There are currently 2,037 undergraduates at Whitworth and the school’s acceptance rate is 91%. The tuition at Whitworth…Read More

    Whitworth University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    91% acceptance
    76% graduation rate
    2,037 undergrads
    $26,736 net price
    S

    Seattle Pacific University

    Seattle, WA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Seattle Pacific University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Seattle, Washington. There are currently 2,409 undergraduates at SPU and the school’s acceptance rate is 91%. The tuition at…Read More

    Seattle Pacific University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    91% acceptance
    65% graduation rate
    2,409 undergrads
    $25,108 net price
    H

    Heritage University

    Toppenish, WA • Private, Non-Profit, Rural

    Heritage University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Toppenish, Washington. There are currently 796 undergraduates at Heritage. The tuition at Heritage is $19,500.

    Heritage University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    --% acceptance
    45% graduation rate
    796 undergrads
    $7,564 net price
    S

    Saint Martin's University

    Lacey, WA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Saint Martin's University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Lacey, Washington. There are currently 1,344 undergraduates at Saint Martin's and the school’s acceptance rate is 95%. The tuition…Read More

    Saint Martin's University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    95% acceptance
    60% graduation rate
    1,344 undergrads
    $20,444 net price
    W

    Walla Walla University

    College Place, WA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Walla Walla University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in College Place, Washington. There are currently 1,234 undergraduates at Walla Walla. The tuition at Walla Walla is $31,758.

    Walla Walla University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    --% acceptance
    63% graduation rate
    1,234 undergrads
    $23,376 net price
    C

    Central Washington University

    Ellensburg, WA • Public, Town

    Central Washington University is a public 4-year college located in Ellensburg, Washington. There are currently 8,650 undergraduates at CWU and the school’s acceptance rate is 93%. The tuition at CWU…Read More

    Central Washington University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    93% acceptance
    52% graduation rate
    8,650 undergrads
    $16,768 net price
    E

    Eastern Washington University

    Cheney, WA • Public, Town

    Eastern Washington University is a public 4-year college located in Cheney, Washington. There are currently 6,938 undergraduates at Eastern Washington and the school’s acceptance rate is 96%. The tuition at…Read More

    Eastern Washington University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    96% acceptance
    50% graduation rate
    6,938 undergrads
    $11,676 net price
    N

    Northwest University

    Kirkland, WA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Northwest University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Kirkland, Washington. There are currently 662 undergraduates at Northwest and the school’s acceptance rate is 94%. The tuition at Northwest…Read More

    Northwest University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    94% acceptance
    68% graduation rate
    662 undergrads
    $21,830 net price
    E

    The Evergreen State College

    Olympia, WA • Public, Suburb

    The Evergreen State College is a public 4-year college located in Olympia, Washington. There are currently 1,799 undergraduates at Evergreen and the school’s acceptance rate is 74%. The tuition at…Read More

    The Evergreen State College is a public 4-year college located…Read More

    74% acceptance
    41% graduation rate
    1,799 undergrads
    $20,891 net price
    C

    Cornish College of the Arts

    Seattle, WA • Private, Non-Profit, City

    Cornish College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Seattle, Washington. There are currently 416 undergraduates at Cornish and the school’s acceptance rate is 71%. The…Read More

    Cornish College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year…Read More

    71% acceptance
    53% graduation rate
    416 undergrads
    $38,416 net price
    About the Data

    We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

    State grants in Washington State

    Washington College Grant:

    The Washington College Grant is a need-based grant for Washington students planning on attending approved certificate programs, job training, apprenticeships or college. Participating institutions include public colleges and universities, private non-profit colleges, community colleges, and tribal colleges. 

    The College Bound Commitment:

    The College Bound Commitment provides funding to low income Washington students who commit to go to a public college or university or private college or career school. The value for this grant goes all the up to covering the full tuition of a public college.

    Washington State tuition reciprocity agreements

    Tuition Reciprocity allows students to receive tuition discounts by going to school in partner states, typically states in the same region of the country. Washington is included in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). 

    The states included in the WUE are as follows: 

    Other college lists to explore

    Frequently asked questions about colleges in Washington State

    What is the hardest school in Washington to get into?

     The school with the lowest acceptance rate in Washington State is the University of Washington-Seattle Campus with an acceptance rate of 53%. Remember to not be discouraged to apply to schools with lower acceptance rates! There are many different factors that go into college admissions and it never hurts to apply.

    Does Washington State have tuition reciprocity?

     Yes! Washington State students have the opportunity to receive tuition discounts when going to other schools in partner states as they have reciprocity agreements through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE).

    Why should I study in Washington State?

    The state of Washington has a beautiful landscape which makes it a great place for students looking to study surrounded by nature. But if you are looking to study in a more urban setting, there are opportunities for that as well in Washington. Cities like Seattle have many career and internship opportunities in major industries like finance, computer science, and healthcare.

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