Best Colleges in Washington

64
Universities
11
Community Colleges
75
Total Institutions

Explore 75 colleges and universities in Washington, ranked by the Repit College Score. Our ratings evaluate graduation rates, affordability, resources, and student experience.

#1
B+

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA • 55,620 students
Public
84%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
15%
Off-Campus
#2
B

Whitman College

Walla Walla, WA • 1,544 students
Private Non-Profit
81%
Grad Rate
#3
B

Washington State University

Pullman, WA • 26,490 students
Public
62%
Grad Rate
$18k
Net Price
#4
B

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Bothell, WA • 5,809 students
Public
68%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
43%
Off-Campus
#5
B

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA • 7,306 students
Private Non-Profit
87%
Grad Rate
#6
B

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA • 14,651 students
Public
66%
Grad Rate
$22k
Net Price
5%
Off-Campus
#7
B

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA • 4,777 students
Public
62%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
34%
Off-Campus
#8
C+

Seattle University

Seattle, WA • 7,182 students
Private Non-Profit
73%
Grad Rate
#9
C+

Bellevue College

Bellevue, WA • 11,472 students
Public
33%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
43%
Off-Campus
#10
C+

Centralia College

Centralia, WA • 2,335 students
Public
46%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
49%
Off-Campus
#11
C+

Renton Technical College

Renton, WA • 3,060 students
Public
55%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
50%
Off-Campus
#12
C+

Edmonds College

Lynnwood, WA • 6,028 students
Public
33%
Grad Rate
$14k
Net Price
53%
Off-Campus
#13
C+

Highline College

Des Moines, WA • 5,126 students
Public
39%
Grad Rate
$13k
Net Price
54%
Off-Campus
#14
C+

Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WA • 2,737 students
Private Non-Profit
71%
Grad Rate
#15
C+

Wenatchee Valley College

Wenatchee, WA • 2,819 students
Public
40%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
46%
Off-Campus
#16
C+

Seattle Film Institute

Seattle, WA • 81 students
Private For-Profit
89%
Grad Rate
#17
C+

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA • 8,796 students
Public
50%
Grad Rate
$16k
Net Price
#18
C+

Columbia Basin College

Pasco, WA • 6,729 students
Public
28%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
53%
Off-Campus
#19
C+

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA • 10,741 students
Public
47%
Grad Rate
$14k
Net Price
12%
Off-Campus
#20
C+

Everett Community College

Everett, WA • 6,211 students
Public
38%
Grad Rate
$13k
Net Price
56%
Off-Campus
#21
C+

Olympic College

Bremerton, WA • 5,413 students
Public
34%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
48%
Off-Campus
#22
C+

University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, WA • 1,914 students
Private Non-Profit
68%
Grad Rate
#23
C+

Walla Walla University

College Place, WA • 1,397 students
Private Non-Profit
64%
Grad Rate
#24
C+

Whatcom Community College

Bellingham, WA • 3,490 students
Public
36%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
39%
Off-Campus
#25
C+

Whitworth University

Spokane, WA • 2,345 students
Private Non-Profit
68%
Grad Rate
#26
C+

Yakima Valley College

Yakima, WA • 3,523 students
Public
34%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
54%
Off-Campus
#27
C+

Green River College

Auburn, WA • 7,361 students
Public
41%
Grad Rate
$14k
Net Price
69%
Off-Campus
#28
C+

Skagit Valley College

Mount Vernon, WA • 4,098 students
Public
34%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
48%
Off-Campus
#29
C+

Clark College

Vancouver, WA • 7,149 students
Public
36%
Grad Rate
$12k
Net Price
55%
Off-Campus
#30
C+

Pierce College District

Lakewood, WA • 7,427 students
Public
31%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
47%
Off-Campus
#31
C+

Lower Columbia College

Longview, WA • 2,412 students
Public
25%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
52%
Off-Campus
#32
C+

Seattle Central College

Seattle, WA • 5,210 students
Public
31%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
48%
Off-Campus
#33
C+

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, WA • 2,659 students
Private Non-Profit
62%
Grad Rate
#34
C+

Spokane Community College

Spokane, WA • 6,286 students
Public
37%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
36%
Off-Campus
#35
C+

Walla Walla Community College

Walla Walla, WA • 2,982 students
Public
47%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
50%
Off-Campus
#36
C

Big Bend Community College

Moses Lake, WA • 1,786 students
Public
37%
Grad Rate
$13k
Net Price
43%
Off-Campus
#37
C

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, WA • 3,040 students
Public
41%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
37%
Off-Campus
#38
C

Bastyr University

Kenmore, WA • 760 students
Private Non-Profit
#39
C

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Kirkland, WA • 3,357 students
Public
40%
Grad Rate
$9k
Net Price
50%
Off-Campus
#40
C

North Seattle College

Seattle, WA • 5,017 students
Public
32%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
44%
Off-Campus
#41
C

Cascadia College

Bothell, WA • 2,013 students
Public
41%
Grad Rate
$14k
Net Price
72%
Off-Campus
#42
C

Peninsula College

Port Angeles, WA • 1,837 students
Public
41%
Grad Rate
$7k
Net Price
36%
Off-Campus
#43
C

Tacoma Community College

Tacoma, WA • 5,771 students
Public
33%
Grad Rate
$11k
Net Price
46%
Off-Campus
#44
C

Northwest Indian College

Bellingham, WA • 696 students
Public
27%
Grad Rate
$10k
Net Price
23%
Off-Campus
#45
C

Cornish College of the Arts

Seattle, WA • 502 students
Private Non-Profit
52%
Grad Rate
#46
C

The Evergreen State College

Olympia, WA • 2,320 students
Public
44%
Grad Rate
$18k
Net Price
25%
Off-Campus
#47
C

Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • 1,505 students
Private Non-Profit
57%
Grad Rate
#48
C

Great Northern University

Spokane, WA • 36 students
Private Non-Profit
#49
C

DigiPen Institute of Technology

Redmond, WA • 1,100 students
Private For-Profit
52%
Grad Rate
#50
C

Antioch University-Seattle

Seattle, WA • 800 students
Private Non-Profit
#51
C

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, WA • 1,850 students
Public
45%
Grad Rate
$8k
Net Price
40%
Off-Campus
#52
C

Grays Harbor College

Aberdeen, WA • 1,663 students
Public
32%
Grad Rate
$6k
Net Price
43%
Off-Campus
#53
C

Northwest University

Kirkland, WA • 999 students
Private Non-Profit
63%
Grad Rate
#54
C

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, WA • 3,903 students
Public
30%
Grad Rate
$9k
Net Price
39%
Off-Campus
#55
C

South Seattle College

Seattle, WA • 5,295 students
Public
26%
Grad Rate
$9k
Net Price
60%
Off-Campus
#56
C

Faith International University

Tacoma, WA • 370 students
Private Non-Profit
67%
Grad Rate
#57
C

Heritage University

Toppenish, WA • 835 students
Private Non-Profit
40%
Grad Rate
#58
C

Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine

Seattle, WA • 43 students
Private Non-Profit
#59
C

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Yakima, WA • 649 students
Private Non-Profit
#60
C

Whitworth University-Adult Degree Programs

Spokane, WA • 170 students
Private Non-Profit
#61
D

City University of Seattle

Seattle, WA • 1,970 students
Private Non-Profit
17%
Grad Rate
#62
D

The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

Seattle, WA • 257 students
Private Non-Profit
#63
D

Northwest College of Art & Design

Tacoma, WA • 150 students
Private For-Profit
36%
Grad Rate
#64
D

Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education

Kirkland, WA • 1,343 students
Private Non-Profit
31%
Grad Rate

Cities with Multiple Colleges

Walla Walla 2 colleges
Bothell 2 colleges
Bellingham 4 colleges
Lakewood 2 colleges
Tacoma 8 colleges
Seattle 14 colleges
Spokane 7 colleges
Yakima 3 colleges
Renton 2 colleges
Olympia 2 colleges
Kirkland 3 colleges

About College Rankings in Washington

The Repit College Score ranks 75 colleges and universities in Washington based on outcomes (graduation rates, retention), affordability (net cost, financial aid), resources (class sizes, faculty ratios), and student experience (campus life, housing options).

4-Year Universities (64): Bachelor's degree-granting institutions including public universities, private colleges, and research institutions.

2-Year Colleges (11): Community colleges and technical schools offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Washington

How many colleges are in Washington?

There are 75 accredited colleges and universities in Washington tracked by Repit, including 64 4-year institutions and 11 community colleges. Each school is rated using our proprietary scoring system that evaluates outcomes, affordability, and resources.

How does Repit rate colleges?

Repit rates colleges on a 100-point scale across five categories: Outcomes (graduation and retention rates), Affordability (net cost and financial aid), Resources (class sizes and selectivity), Experience (campus life and learning format), and Prestige (reputation and recognition). Each factor is weighted and combined into an overall score and letter grade.

Should I attend a public or private college in Washington?

Washington has both public and private institutions. Public schools often offer lower tuition for state residents, while private schools may provide more financial aid. Compare net prices and outcomes using Repit's detailed college profiles to find the best value for your situation.

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: September 2026 | Methodology