Best colleges in Washington

Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.

Best colleges in Washington24 schools

24 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.

How this list is made

Schools in Washington.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · PublicHonor Roll
#1 in Washington
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 85% graduate
2
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#2 in Washington
- Value grade B-
- 81% graduate
3
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 6% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- 86% graduate
4
Seattle University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 11% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- 76% graduate
5
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 15% for earnings
- Value grade C+
- 68% graduate
6
Walla Walla University
College Place, WA · Private nonprofit
#6 in Washington
- Value grade B-
- 60% graduate
7
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 20% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 71% graduate
7
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public
Top 24% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 65% graduate
9
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · Public
Top 8% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 65% graduate
10
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 17% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 24%
- 69% graduate
11
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 20% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- 71% graduate
12
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · Public
Top 8% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 63% graduate
13
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Redmond, WA · Private for-profit
Top 8% for earnings
- Value grade C+
- 61% graduate
14
Heritage University
Toppenish, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 18% for low debt
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 54% graduate
15
Washington State University
Pullman, WA · Public
Top 16% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 61% graduate
16
Great Northern University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B
- 50% graduate
17
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 20% for earnings
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 62% graduate
18
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · Public
Top 25% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 54% graduate
19
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 25% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- 52% graduate
20
Northwest College of Art & Design
Tacoma, WA · Private for-profit
Good: Compass grade B-
- Value grade C+
- 58% graduate
21
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, WA · Public
Good: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B-
- 41% graduate
22
Faith International University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit
Top 25% for low debt
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 25% graduate
23
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofit
Solid: Compass grade C+
- Value grade C+
- 50% graduate
24
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA · Public
Solid: Compass grade C+
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- 43% graduate

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
University of Washington-Seattle Campus	$14,091	$14,615	$78,466	85%
Whitman College	$33,313	$18,437	$67,589	81%
Gonzaga University	$35,119	$24,454	$78,892	86%
Seattle University	$34,662	$19,883	$75,272	76%
University of Puget Sound	$38,394	$25,000	$69,594	68%
Walla Walla University	$23,329	$26,842	$61,885	60%
Northwest University	$22,288	$20,891	$54,914	71%
Western Washington University	$21,193	$18,500	$62,569	65%
University of Washington-Bothell Campus	$12,319	$14,615	$78,466	65%
Pacific Lutheran University	$19,589	$22,578	$66,990	69%
Whitworth University	$26,534	$25,000	$58,561	71%
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus	$10,163	$14,615	$78,466	63%
DigiPen Institute of Technology	$44,446	$27,000	$79,878	61%
Heritage University	$14,598	$14,573	$49,416	54%
Washington State University	$14,971	$19,500	$68,905	61%
Great Northern University	$21,029	—	—	50%
Seattle Pacific University	$24,488	$24,000	$64,506	62%
Central Washington University	$18,476	$19,500	$61,580	54%
Saint Martin's University	$28,119	$22,500	$62,092	52%
Northwest College of Art & Design	$16,418	$30,750	$31,167	58%
The Evergreen State College	$24,319	$20,500	$45,320	41%
Faith International University	$22,662	$17,650	$51,006	25%
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education	$35,671	$20,891	$54,914	50%
Eastern Washington University	$13,886	$19,500	$57,897	43%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Best colleges in Washington

How this list is made

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Whitman College

Gonzaga University

Seattle University

University of Puget Sound

Walla Walla University

Northwest University

Western Washington University

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Pacific Lutheran University

Whitworth University

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

DigiPen Institute of Technology

Heritage University

Washington State University

Great Northern University

Seattle Pacific University

Central Washington University

Saint Martin's University

Northwest College of Art & Design

The Evergreen State College

Faith International University

Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education

Eastern Washington University

Compare cost and outcomes

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