Best colleges in Washington
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.
While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.
Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Washington using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school's appeal, whether it be a beachside location, one full of New England foliage, or proximity to tech hubs and companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Online and unspecified location schools were excluded from the rankings. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.
#25. City University of Seattle
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Net price: $20,567
- Enrollment: 117 (3:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Campus grade: A
--- Value grade: A-
#24. Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Net price: $8,147
- Enrollment: 5,131 (27:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C-
--- Campus grade: A
--- Diversity grade: B+
--- Party grade: C+
#23. Bellevue College
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Net price: $9,536
- Enrollment: 6,747 (26:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Campus grade: B+
--- Value grade: B-
#22. The Evergreen State College
- Acceptance rate: 98%
- Net price: $14,723
- Enrollment: 1,868 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C
--- Diversity grade: B+
--- Party grade: B-
--- Academics grade: C+
#21. Cornish College of the Arts
- Acceptance rate: 79%
- Net price: $39,440
- Enrollment: 470 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: C+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Dorms grade: A
--- Campus grade: B+
#20. Central Washington University
- Acceptance rate: 86%
- Net price: $16,441
- Enrollment: 9,235 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Value grade: B
--- Athletics grade: B
#19. Charter College - Alaska
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Net price: $24,737
- Enrollment: 2,120 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Safety grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A-
#18. Eastern Washington University
- Acceptance rate: 79%
- Net price: $12,322
- Enrollment: 8,685 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Athletics grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Party grade: B+
#17. Saint Martin's University
- Acceptance rate: 94%
- Net price: $23,824
- Enrollment: 1,253 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Value grade: B+
--- Dorms grade: B+
#16. Walla Walla University
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Net price: $23,598
- Enrollment: 1,397 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Value grade: A-
--- Safety grade: B+
#15. Heritage University
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Net price: $7,356
- Enrollment: 691 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Safety grade: A
--- Value grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A-
#14. Western Washington University
- Acceptance rate: 94%
- Net price: $18,398
- Enrollment: 12,447 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Location grade: A
--- Value grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: B+
#13. Pacific Lutheran University
- Acceptance rate: 86%
- Net price: $25,368
- Enrollment: 2,486 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Campus food grade: A-
--- Value grade: B+
#12. University of Washington - Bothell
- Acceptance rate: 88%
- Net price: $8,841
- Enrollment: 4,911 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Value grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Safety grade: A
#11. University of Puget Sound
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Net price: $38,127
- Enrollment: 1,830 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A-
--- Professors grade: A-
#10. University of Washington - Tacoma
- Acceptance rate: 86%
- Net price: $10,113
- Enrollment: 4,034 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Value grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Student life grade: B+
#9. DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Acceptance rate: 38%
- Net price: $36,832
- Enrollment: 979 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Safety grade: A-
--- Academics grade: B+
#8. Northwest University
- Acceptance rate: 93%
- Net price: $21,825
- Enrollment: 815 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Location grade: A
--- Student life grade: A
#7. Seattle Pacific University
- Acceptance rate: 91%
- Net price: $28,367
- Enrollment: 2,606 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Location grade: A+
--- Value grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: A-
#6. Whitworth University
- Acceptance rate: 91%
- Net price: $25,785
- Enrollment: 2,307 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A-
--- Dorms grade: A-
#5. Gonzaga University
- Acceptance rate: 73%
- Net price: $36,880
- Enrollment: 4,886 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Value grade: A
--- Athletics grade: A
--- Student life grade: A
#4. Seattle University
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Net price: $36,843
- Enrollment: 4,045 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Location grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Value grade: A-
#3. Whitman College
- Acceptance rate: 54%
- Net price: $38,989
- Enrollment: 1,288 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Academics grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Professors grade: A
#2. Washington State University
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Net price: $17,931
- Enrollment: 22,315 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Party grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A
#1. University of Washington
- Acceptance rate: 56%
- Net price: $9,661
- Enrollment: 29,350 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Athletics grade: A+