Best Christian Colleges in Washington 2026

Badge for BEST IN WASHINGTON CHRISTIAN COLLEGES
By Dr. James Barham
Updated:

For prospective college students looking for schools that align with their Christian faith and demonstrate academic excellence, here are the best Christian colleges and universities in Washington.

Best Christian Colleges in Washington in 2026

  1. Seattle University
  2. Gonzaga University
  3. Seattle Pacific University
  4. Pacific Lutheran University
  5. Walla Walla University
  6. Whitworth University
  7. Saint Martin's University
  8. Northwest University

Colleges and Universities in Washington

Of the 40 public options, the University of Washington in Seattle is the largest. Roughly 40,000 students attend classes in fields like nursing, education, biology, and computer science. This public research institution is also affordable, charging about $11,000 for tuition. In fact, none of the public schools in Washington exceed $12,000 in price. This includes community colleges, technical colleges, and four-year universities, making Washington a uniquely affordable place to earn your associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Washington also has 24 private institutions. Of those, nine are religious. The most widely known of these, Catholic university Gonzaga enrolls roughly 7,000 students, at a cost of $40,000, in areas such as religious studies, engineering, and law. Central Washington University (CWU) is a smaller public school, serving just over 12,000 students, and has a tuition of $8,000. With 15% of its population being Hispanic, CWU is now recognized as an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution. Washington health professions also have the opportunity to receive funding for loan repayment through Washington’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Program.

Set in the Pacific Northwest, Washington offers ocean beaches and lush forests. In fact, over half the state is covered in forests, earning Washington its nickname as The Evergreen State. Viewers atop the Space Needle in Seattle can take in the sights of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and both the Cascades and Olympic mountain ranges. In addition, prospective students can choose from over 60 higher education institutions in the state.

Check out the top higher education programs and find an affordable degree in Washington.


What are Washington’s Colleges & Universities?

Washington’s Best Overall

The following list of the best Christian schools consists entirely of colleges and universities that offer four-year undergraduate degrees. We’ve identified 8 Christian colleges in Washington. In order to be included in this ranking list of best Christian colleges and universities, a school must self-identify as Christian, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor degree programs.

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Best Christian Colleges in Washington 2023

  1. #1

    Seattle University

    Seattle , WA
    #1 Best Private Colleges in Washington 2026 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #3 Best Research Universities in Washington 2026 #3 Best Grad Schools in Washington 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1315/26

    Career Outlook for degree at Seattle University

    Cost of Degree: $54,285
    Expenses: $19,328
    Starting Salary: $84,728
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Seattle University known for?

    Seattle University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  2. #2

    Gonzaga University

    Spokane , WA
    #2 Best Private Colleges in Washington 2026 #4 Best Research Universities in Washington 2026 #4 Best Grad Schools in Washington 2026 #5 Best Colleges in Washington 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    85%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1285/29

    Career Outlook for degree at Gonzaga University

    Cost of Degree: $53,500
    Expenses: $20,749
    Starting Salary: $89,110
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Gonzaga University known for?

    Gonzaga University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  3. #3

    Seattle Pacific University

    Seattle , WA
    #15 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2026 #4 Best Small Colleges in Washington 2026 #5 Best Research Universities in Washington 2026 #5 Best Private Colleges in Washington 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $44K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1185/24

    Career Outlook for degree at Seattle Pacific University

    Cost of Degree: $38,814
    Expenses: $20,154
    Starting Salary: $71,277
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Seattle Pacific University known for?

    Seattle Pacific University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  4. #4

    Pacific Lutheran University

    Tacoma , WA
    #5 Best Small Colleges in Washington 2026 #6 Best Private Colleges in Washington 2026 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Washington 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $53K

    Acceptance

    78%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1150/25

    Career Outlook for degree at Pacific Lutheran University

    Cost of Degree: $50,272
    Expenses: $15,873
    Starting Salary: $71,109
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Pacific Lutheran University known for?

    Pacific Lutheran University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  6. #5

    Walla Walla University

    College Place , WA
    #21 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2026 #6 Best Small Colleges in Washington 2026 #7 Best Private Colleges in Washington 2026 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Washington 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $36K

    Graduation

    58%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Walla Walla University

    Cost of Degree: $33,027
    Expenses: $12,936
    Starting Salary: $67,140
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Walla Walla University known for?

    Walla Walla University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  7. #6

    Whitworth University

    Spokane , WA
    #7 Best Small Colleges in Washington 2026 #8 Best Private Colleges in Washington 2026 #9 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Washington 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    67%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1210/25

    Career Outlook for degree at Whitworth University

    Cost of Degree: $50,920
    Expenses: $18,293
    Starting Salary: $64,055
    Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Whitworth University known for?

    Whitworth University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  8. #7

    Saint Martin's University

    Lacey , WA
    #7 Best Grad Schools in Washington 2026 #10 Best Small Colleges in Washington 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $47K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    56%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1127/18

    Career Outlook for degree at Saint Martin's University

    Cost of Degree: $44,210
    Expenses: $17,980
    Starting Salary: $70,376
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Saint Martin's University known for?

    Saint Martin's University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
  9. #8

    Northwest University

    Kirkland , WA
    #8 Best Grad Schools in Washington 2026 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Washington 2026 #4 Best Online MBA Programs in Washington #8 Best Online Master's Programs in Washington 2026

    Tuition + fees

    $37K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    67%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Northwest University

    Cost of Degree: $36,035
    Expenses: $14,812
    Starting Salary: $61,237
    Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
    What is Northwest University known for?

    Northwest University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Compare school
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Washington’s Best Christian Colleges in Your Area of Interest

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2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

  1. Seattle University
  2. Saint Martin's University
  3. Pacific Lutheran University
  4. Seattle Pacific University
  5. Walla Walla University
  6. Gonzaga University
  7. Whitworth University
  8. Northwest University
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