Best small colleges in Washington
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in Washington12 schools
12 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Washington.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Washington
- 1,544 undergraduates
- 81% graduate
- 2
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- 1,632 undergraduates
- 68% graduate
- 3
Walla Walla University
College Place, WA · Private nonprofit#6 in Washington
- 1,266 undergraduates
- 60% graduate
- 4
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- 679 undergraduates
- 71% graduate
- 5
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- 1,939 undergraduates
- 71% graduate
- 6
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Redmond, WA · Private for-profitTop 8% for earnings
- 1,042 undergraduates
- 61% graduate
- 7
Heritage University
Toppenish, WA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for low debt
- 783 undergraduates
- 54% graduate
- 8
Great Northern University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 36 undergraduates
- 50% graduate
- 9
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for earnings
- 1,267 undergraduates
- 52% graduate
- 10
Northwest College of Art & Design
Tacoma, WA · Private for-profitGood: Compass grade B-
- 150 undergraduates
- 58% graduate
- 11
Faith International University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for low debt
- 196 undergraduates
- 25% graduate
- 12
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- 1,187 undergraduates
- 50% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitman College | $33,313 | $18,437 | $67,589 | 81% |
| 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% |
| Whitworth University | $26,534 | $25,000 | $58,561 | 71% |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology | $44,446 | $27,000 | $79,878 | 61% |
| Heritage University | $14,598 | $14,573 | $49,416 | 54% |
| Great Northern University | $21,029 | — | — | 50% |
| Saint Martin's University | $28,119 | $22,500 | $62,092 | 52% |
| Northwest College of Art & Design | $16,418 | $30,750 | $31,167 | 58% |
| 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% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15