Washington
Colleges in Washington
Washington has 64 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide, each rated on academics and value from federal data; 13 are Compass Recommended.
Map of colleges in Washington
Hover or tap a dot to see the school and its score.
Compass ScoreNot yet ratedMap: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries; roads and places © OpenStreetMap contributors via OpenFreeMap.
Highest-rated colleges in Washington
#1 in Washington
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 7%Seattle, WA · Value A+ · Academics A
#2 in Washington
Whitman College
Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 8%Walla Walla, WA · Value B- · Academics A
#3 in Washington
Gonzaga University
Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%Spokane, WA · Value B- · Academics A
Top lists in Washington
- 24 schoolsBest colleges
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for nursing
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for engineering
- 20 schoolsBest colleges for business
- 20 schoolsBest colleges for education
- 18 schoolsBest colleges for biology and pre-med
- 21 schoolsBest colleges for psychology
- 13 schoolsBest colleges for computer science
Show all 45 lists
- 19 schoolsBest colleges for communications and journalism
- 15 schoolsBest colleges for accounting
- 7 schoolsBest colleges for finance
- 10 schoolsBest colleges for marketing
- 14 schoolsBest colleges for criminal justice
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for political science and pre-law
- 13 schoolsBest colleges for economics
- 17 schoolsBest colleges for history
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for English
- 17 schoolsBest colleges for mathematics
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for chemistry
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for music
- 16 schoolsBest colleges for art and design
- 12 schoolsBest colleges for exercise science and kinesiology
- 8 schoolsBest colleges for social work
- 13 schoolsBest value colleges
- 13 schoolsMost affordable colleges with strong academics
- 24 schoolsColleges with the highest graduation rates
- 12 schoolsBest small colleges
- 3 schoolsBest large colleges
- 9 schoolsBest mid-size colleges
- 5 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division I athletes
- 4 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division II athletes
- 4 schoolsBest colleges for NCAA Division III athletes
- 3 schoolsBest colleges for NAIA athletes
- 20 schoolsBest test-optional colleges
- 13 schoolsColleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price
- 13 schoolsLowest net price for middle-income families
- 13 schoolsColleges with the lowest student debt
- 13 schoolsColleges with the best earnings for the price
- 13 schoolsColleges that pay for themselves fastest
- 3 schoolsBest colleges under $20,000 a year
- 13 schoolsBest value colleges in the West
- 13 schoolsColleges where the most freshmen return
- 13 schoolsColleges with the most faculty per student
- 13 schoolsColleges that spend the most on teaching
- 12 schoolsMost selective colleges
All colleges in Washington
| School | Compass Score | Value | Academics | Net price | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Seattle · Public | A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,091 | 55,620 | |
| Whitman College Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value. Walla Walla · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $33,313 | 1,544 | |
| Gonzaga University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Spokane · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $35,119 | 7,306 | |
| Seattle University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Seattle · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $34,662 | 7,182 | |
| University of Puget Sound RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Tacoma · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $38,394 | 1,914 | |
| Walla Walla University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. College Place · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $23,329 | 1,397 | |
| Western Washington University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Bellingham · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $21,193 | 14,651 | |
| Northwest University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Kirkland · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,288 | 999 | |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Bothell · Public | A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $12,319 | 5,809 | |
| Pacific Lutheran University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Tacoma · Private nonprofit | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $19,589 | 2,737 | |
| Whitworth University RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Spokane · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $26,534 | 2,345 | |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Tacoma · Public | A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $10,163 | 4,777 | |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value. Redmond · Private for-profit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $44,446 | 1,100 | |
| Heritage University Toppenish · Private nonprofit | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,598 | 835 | |
| Washington State University Pullman · Public | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $14,971 | 26,490 | |
| Great Northern University Spokane · Private nonprofit | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | $21,029 | 36 | |
| Seattle Pacific University Seattle · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,488 | 2,659 | |
| Central Washington University Ellensburg · Public | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $18,476 | 8,796 | |
| Saint Martin's University Lacey · Private nonprofit | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | BAcademics: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $28,119 | 1,505 | |
| Northwest College of Art & Design Tacoma · Private for-profit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $16,418 | 150 | |
| The Evergreen State College Olympia · Public | B-Value: Good (grade B-): the top 75% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $24,319 | 2,320 | |
| Faith International University Tacoma · Private nonprofit | BValue: Good (grade B): the top 55% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $22,662 | 370 | |
| Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education Kirkland · Private nonprofit | C+Value: Solid (grade C+): the rest of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $35,671 | 1,343 | |
| Eastern Washington University Cheney · Public | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $13,886 | 10,741 | |
| Bellevue College Bellevue · Public | — | A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,430 | 11,472 |
| Pierce College District Lakewood · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $10,222 | 7,427 |
| Green River College Auburn · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $13,803 | 7,361 |
| Clark College Vancouver · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,465 | 7,149 |
| Columbia Basin College Pasco · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $8,317 | 6,729 |
| Spokane Community College Spokane · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $5,473 | 6,286 |
| Everett Community College Everett · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $10,684 | 6,211 |
| Edmonds College Lynnwood · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,010 | 6,028 |
| Tacoma Community College Tacoma · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $8,376 | 5,771 |
| Olympic College Bremerton · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $7,172 | 5,413 |
| South Seattle College Seattle · Public | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $6,004 | 5,295 |
| Seattle Central College Seattle · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $8,819 | 5,210 |
| Highline College Des Moines · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,879 | 5,126 |
| North Seattle College Seattle · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $10,740 | 5,017 |
| Shoreline Community College Shoreline · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $8,585 | 4,460 |
| South Puget Sound Community College Olympia · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,132 | 4,252 |
| Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $6,064 | 4,098 |
| Spokane Falls Community College Spokane · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $7,409 | 3,903 |
| Bates Technical College Tacoma · Public | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $6,292 | 3,817 |
| Yakima Valley College Yakima · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,843 | 3,523 |
| Whatcom Community College Bellingham · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $11,795 | 3,490 |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $6,817 | 3,357 |
| Renton Technical College Renton · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $8,296 | 3,060 |
| Clover Park Technical College Lakewood · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,864 | 3,040 |
| Walla Walla Community College Walla Walla · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,406 | 2,982 |
| Wenatchee Valley College Wenatchee · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,722 | 2,819 |
| Lower Columbia College Longview · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $7,630 | 2,412 |
| Centralia College Centralia · Public | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,862 | 2,335 |
| Cascadia College Bothell · Public | — | AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $12,281 | 2,013 |
| City University of Seattle Seattle · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 1,970 |
| Bellingham Technical College Bellingham · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $5,997 | 1,850 |
| Peninsula College Port Angeles · Public | — | B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $9,246 | 1,837 |
| Big Bend Community College Moses Lake · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $12,210 | 1,786 |
| Grays Harbor College Aberdeen · Public | — | A-Value: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank, so no college gets a D or an F. | B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $4,783 | 1,663 |
| Antioch University-Seattle Seattle · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 800 |
| Bastyr University Kenmore · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 760 |
| Northwest Indian College Bellingham · Public | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | C+Academics: C+ (grade C+): 0 to 100 points out of 100, from federal data. | $3,136 | 696 |
| Cornish College of the Arts Seattle · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 502 |
| Whitworth University-Adult Degree Programs Spokane · Private nonprofit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | — | 170 |
| Seattle Film Institute Seattle · Private for-profit | — | N/AValue: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | N/AAcademics: Not enough information. Federal data does not cover enough of this to grade it yet. | $41,595 | 81 |
Common questions
How many colleges are in Washington?
Washington has 64 accredited four-year colleges on College Compass Guide.
Which colleges in Washington are Compass Recommended?
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Whitman College, Gonzaga University, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, Walla Walla University, Western Washington University, Northwest University, University of Washington-Bothell Campus, Pacific Lutheran University, Whitworth University, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, DigiPen Institute of Technology. Recommended means the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value (how it works).