2024 Best Colleges in Washington
51
Colleges
$52,740
Avg Salary*
48%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
When pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Top Washington Colleges ranking.
Our analysis looked at 51 schools in Washington to determine which ones were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as graduation rate, post graduate earnings, and a school's average expenditure per student - to make this determination.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Custom Rankings
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Top Colleges in Washington
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Washington - Seattle Campus tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Washington for overall quality. UW Seattle is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 15,234 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $68,925 during the early years of their career..
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Out of the 51 schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Seattle University landed the #2 spot on the list.Seattle, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,500 students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Seattle U is $69,303 during the early years of their career.
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Out of the 51 schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Gonzaga University landed the #3 spot on the list. Gonzaga University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Spokane, Washington that handed out 2,266 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga is $69,468 during the early years of their career.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington State University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Washington list. This large public school is located in Pullman, Washington, and it awarded 8,678 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Wazzu is $61,080 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Washington State University
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges in Washington list means Western Washington University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Bellingham, Washington, the fairly large public school handed out 3,975 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,976 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Western Washington University
University of Puget Sound landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington ranking. Located in Tacoma, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 694 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. During the early years of their career, graduates from Puget Sound make an average of $61,842 a year.
Read full report on University of Puget Sound
Central Washington University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington ranking, coming in at #7.Ellensburg, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,496 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from CWU is $55,685 during the early years of their career.
Full Central Washington University Report
Clover Park Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Washington ranking. This small public school is located in Lakewood, Washington, and it awarded 1,769 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from CPTC go into careers with an average salary of $34,589 during the early years of their career.
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City University of Seattle landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 644 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from CityU make an average of $58,510 per year during the early years of their career.
Full City University of Seattle Report
With a ranking of #10, Seattle Pacific University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington list. SPU is located in Seattle, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,294 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,097 during the early years of their career..
Full Seattle Pacific University Report
With a ranking of #11, Lake Washington Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington list. Located in Kirkland, Washington, the small public school awarded 1,238 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from LWTech make an average of $45,834 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Bellevue College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in Washington list. Located in Bellevue, Washington, the fairly large public school awarded 2,717 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,232 during the early years of their career..
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Whitworth University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Spokane, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 733 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Whitworth is $55,248 during the early years of their career.
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Eastern Washington University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington ranking.Cheney, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,364 students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from EWU is $52,667 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Eastern Washington University
Pacific Lutheran University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Washington ranking. Pacific Lutheran University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Tacoma, Washington that handed out 776 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from PLU go into careers with an average salary of $57,049 during the early years of their career.
Full Pacific Lutheran University Report
Heritage University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges in Washington list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Toppenish, Washington, and it awarded 277 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Heritage University go into careers with an average salary of $46,046 during the early years of their career.
Full Heritage University Report
Bellingham Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington ranking, coming in at #17. Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute is a public institution located in Bellingham, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,134 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,357 during the early years of their career..
Full Bellingham Technical College Report
Northwest University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington ranking. Located in Kirkland, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 380 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Northwest University make an average of $48,096 a year.
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With a ranking of #19, Walla Walla University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington list. Walla Walla U is a private not-for-profit institution located in College Place, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 462 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Walla Walla U make an average of $53,236 a year.
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Highline College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Washington ranking. This small public school is located in Des Moines, Washington, and it awarded 1,083 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Highline make an average of $45,159 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Highline College Report
With a ranking of #21, Seattle Central College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington list.Seattle, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,319 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Seattle Central make an average of $40,413 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Seattle Central College Report
Saint Martin’s University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Washington ranking.Lacey, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 572 students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Saint Martin’s make an average of $55,283 a year.
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Olympic College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Washington list. OC is located in Bremerton, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,534 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
During the early years of their career, graduates from OC make an average of $39,230 a year.
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With a ranking of #24, Shoreline Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington list.Shoreline, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,521 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Shoreline Community College is $47,212 during the early years of their career.
Full Shoreline Community College Report
With a ranking of #25, Columbia Basin College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Washington list. CBC is a public institution located in Pasco, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,778 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,960 during the early years of their career..
Full Columbia Basin College Report
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