Most selective colleges in Washington
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Washington12 schools
12 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Washington
- Admits 38%
- Average SAT 1410
- 2
- 3
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Redmond, WA · Private for-profitTop 8% for earnings
- Admits 64%
- Average SAT 1297
- 4
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- Admits 72%
- Average SAT 1296
- 5
- 6
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Admits 78%
- Average SAT 1168
- 7
- 8
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Admits 83%
- Average SAT 1150
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
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 Washington-Seattle Campus | $14,091 | $14,615 | $78,466 | 85% |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology | $44,446 | $27,000 | $79,878 | 61% |
| University of Puget Sound | $38,394 | $25,000 | $69,594 | 68% |
| Seattle University | $34,662 | $19,883 | $75,272 | 76% |
| Pacific Lutheran University | $19,589 | $22,578 | $66,990 | 69% |
| Gonzaga University | $35,119 | $24,454 | $78,892 | 86% |
| Northwest University | $22,288 | $20,891 | $54,914 | 71% |
| Seattle Pacific University | $24,488 | $24,000 | $64,506 | 62% |
| Washington State University | $14,971 | $19,500 | $68,905 | 61% |
| Whitworth University | $26,534 | $25,000 | $58,561 | 71% |
| Western Washington University | $21,193 | $18,500 | $62,569 | 65% |
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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Wisconsin 15