Best Colleges in Washington

Online colleges in Washington provide access to affordable degrees. Browse the programs in our ranking and learn about the best online colleges in Washington.
Meg Whitenton
By
Updated October 30, 2024
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Washington is known for providing diverse and innovative higher education opportunities. Some of the largest colleges in Washington are also among the largest in the United States. The best colleges in Washington offer a variety of research and liberal arts programs.

Washington’s state university system spans multiple campuses and a comprehensive online division. Popular majors include business, engineering, and social sciences. The best online colleges in Washington offer flexible learning options, such as accelerated paths to graduation, as well as in-state tuition rates for all distance learners.

Below, we’ve ranked the best colleges in Washington to help you find a school that aligns with your academic and career goals.

In this Article
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Best Accredited Colleges in Washington

#1

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA4 yearCampus + Online

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,687

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

43%

Acceptance Rate

19%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,004

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,477

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

55,230

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,687

Seattle, WA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,687

Acceptance Rate

43%

Online Enrollment

19%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,004

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,477

Retention Rate

95%

Students Enrolled

55,230

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#2

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Bothell, WA2 yearCampus

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,687

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

92%

Acceptance Rate

20%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,004

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,477

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

5,809

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,687

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Bothell, WA2 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,687

Acceptance Rate

92%

Online Enrollment

20%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,004

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,477

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

5,809

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#3

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA4 yearCampus + Online

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,687

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

83%

Acceptance Rate

41%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,004

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,477

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

4,777

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,687

Tacoma, WA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,189

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,687

Acceptance Rate

83%

Online Enrollment

41%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,004

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,477

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

4,777

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#4

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA4 yearCampus + Online

$7,270

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,838

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

19%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,756

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,431

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

14,637

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,270

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,838

Bellingham, WA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,270

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,838

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

19%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,756

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,431

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

14,637

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#5

Centralia College

Centralia, WA4 yearCampus

$4,458

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,948

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

53%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

2,277

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,458

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$4,948

Centralia College

Centralia, WA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,458

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$4,948

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

53%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

2,277

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#6

South Seattle College

Seattle, WA4 yearCampus

$4,458

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,947

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

32%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

4,901

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,458

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$4,947

South Seattle College

Seattle, WA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,458

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$4,947

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

32%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

4,901

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA4 yearCampus + Online

$49,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$49,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

18%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$19,422

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,422

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

7,306

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$49,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$49,800

Spokane, WA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$49,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$49,800

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

18%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$19,422

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,422

Retention Rate

94%

Students Enrolled

7,306

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#8

Whitman College

Walla Walla, WA4 yearCampus

$58,200

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$58,200

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

50%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

1,493

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$58,200

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$58,200

Walla Walla, WA4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$58,200

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$58,200

Acceptance Rate

50%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

1,493

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#9

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA4 yearCampus + Online

$7,294

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$24,833

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

56%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,661

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,987

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

10,273

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,294

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,833

Cheney, WA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,294

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,833

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

56%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,661

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,987

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

10,273

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Northwest Indian College

Bellingham, WA4 yearOnline

$3,564

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,564

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

86%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

50%

Students Enrolled

643

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,564

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$3,564

Northwest Indian College

Bellingham, WA4 yearOnline

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,564

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$3,564

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

86%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

50%

Students Enrolled

643

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Top Degree Programs in Washington

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