Best Colleges in Washington
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.
Best Accredited Colleges in Washington
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,189
- Out-of-state$39,687
- In-State$17,004
- Out-of-state$30,477
- Retention Rate95%
- Acceptance Rate43%
- Students Enrolled55,230
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment19%
- AccreditationYes
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
- Bothell, WA
- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$11,189
- Out-of-state$39,687
- In-State$17,004
- Out-of-state$30,477
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled5,809
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment20%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$11,189
- Out-of-state$39,687
- In-State$17,004
- Out-of-state$30,477
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate83%
- Students Enrolled4,777
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$7,270
- Out-of-state$25,838
- In-State$11,756
- Out-of-state$24,431
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled14,637
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment19%
- AccreditationYes
Centralia College
- Centralia, WA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$4,458
- Out-of-state$4,948
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,277
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
South Seattle College
- Seattle, WA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$4,458
- Out-of-state$4,947
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled4,901
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$49,800
- Out-of-state$49,800
- In-State$19,422
- Out-of-state$19,422
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate76%
- Students Enrolled7,306
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment18%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$58,200
- Out-of-state$58,200
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate50%
- Students Enrolled1,493
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$7,294
- Out-of-state$24,833
- In-State$12,661
- Out-of-state$27,987
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled10,273
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Northwest Indian College
- Bellingham, WA
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$3,564
- Out-of-state$3,564
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate50%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled643
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment86%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2021. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
Top Degree Programs in Washington
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