Colleges where the most freshmen return in Washington
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Washington13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
How this list is made
- Schools in Washington.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Washington
- 95% of freshmen return
- 85% graduate
- 2
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for graduation
- 93% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
- 3
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Washington
- 87% of freshmen return
- 81% graduate
- 4
Walla Walla University
College Place, WA · Private nonprofit#6 in Washington
- 85% of freshmen return
- 60% graduate
- 5
Seattle University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- 84% of freshmen return
- 76% graduate
- 6
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- 84% of freshmen return
- 68% graduate
- 7
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- 84% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 8
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- 82% of freshmen return
- 69% graduate
- 9
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- 79% of freshmen return
- 65% graduate
- 10
Washington State University
Pullman, WA · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- 78% of freshmen return
- 61% graduate
- 11
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- 78% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 12
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Redmond, WA · Private for-profitTop 8% for earnings
- 76% of freshmen return
- 61% graduate
- 13
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- 72% of freshmen return
- 62% 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% |
| Gonzaga University | $35,119 | $24,454 | $78,892 | 86% |
| Whitman College | $33,313 | $18,437 | $67,589 | 81% |
| Walla Walla University | $23,329 | $26,842 | $61,885 | 60% |
| Seattle University | $34,662 | $19,883 | $75,272 | 76% |
| University of Puget Sound | $38,394 | $25,000 | $69,594 | 68% |
| Northwest University | $22,288 | $20,891 | $54,914 | 71% |
| Pacific Lutheran University | $19,589 | $22,578 | $66,990 | 69% |
| Western Washington University | $21,193 | $18,500 | $62,569 | 65% |
| Washington State University | $14,971 | $19,500 | $68,905 | 61% |
| Whitworth University | $26,534 | $25,000 | $58,561 | 71% |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology | $44,446 | $27,000 | $79,878 | 61% |
| Seattle Pacific University | $24,488 | $24,000 | $64,506 | 62% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Wisconsin 15