Best Public Colleges in Washington 2023

Best Public Colleges in Washington 2023
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Washington provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.

10 Best Public Colleges in Washington

  1. University of Washington
  2. Washington State University
  3. Western Washington University
  4. Evergreen State College
  5. Eastern Washington University
  6. Central Washington University
  7. Bellevue College
  8. University of Washington Tacoma
  9. University of Washington Bothell
  10. Columbia Basin College

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.

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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

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

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This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 32 public universities in Washington. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Washington, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.

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Best Public Colleges in Washington 2022

  1. #1

    University of Washington

    Seattle , WA
    #4 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2023 #5 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023 #5 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2023 #7 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    84%

    Student body

    44K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1326/30

    What is University of Washington known for?

    University of Washington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  8. #7

    Bellevue College

    Bellevue , WA
    #1 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    11K

    What is Bellevue College known for?

    Bellevue College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  9. #8

    University of Washington Tacoma

    Tacoma , WA
    #9 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    58%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1070/20

    What is University of Washington Tacoma known for?

    University of Washington Tacoma’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  10. #9

    University of Washington Bothell

    Bothell , WA
    #10 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1155/23

    What is University of Washington Bothell known for?

    University of Washington Bothell’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  11. #10

    Columbia Basin College

    Pasco , WA
    #2 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    5K

    What is Columbia Basin College known for?

    Columbia Basin College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  13. #11

    Peninsula College

    Port Angeles , WA
    #3 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    51%

    Student body

    1K

    What is Peninsula College known for?

    Peninsula College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  14. #12

    Seattle Central College

    Seattle , WA
    #4 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    35%

    Student body

    5K

    What is Seattle Central College known for?

    Seattle Central College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  15. #13

    Wenatchee Valley College

    Wenatchee , WA
    #5 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    3K

    What is Wenatchee Valley College known for?

    Wenatchee Valley College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  16. #14

    Highline College

    Des Moines , WA
    #6 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    5K

    What is Highline College known for?

    Highline College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  17. #15

    Spokane Community College

    Spokane , WA
    #7 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    32%

    Student body

    5K

    What is Spokane Community College known for?

    Spokane Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  19. #16

    Lake Washington Institute of Technology

    Kirkland , WA
    #8 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    43%

    Student body

    3K

    What is Lake Washington Institute of Technology known for?

    Lake Washington Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  20. #17

    Spokane Falls Community College

    Spokane , WA
    #10 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    3K

    What is Spokane Falls Community College known for?

    Spokane Falls Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  21. #18

    Skagit Valley College

    Mount Vernon , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    35%

    Student body

    3K

    What is Skagit Valley College known for?

    Skagit Valley College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  22. #19

    Olympic College

    Bremerton , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    5K

    What is Olympic College known for?

    Olympic College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  23. #20

    Centralia College

    Centralia , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    2K

    What is Centralia College known for?

    Centralia College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  25. #21

    Green River College

    Auburn , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    38%

    Student body

    7K

    What is Green River College known for?

    Green River College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  26. #22

    Edmonds College

    Lynnwood , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    35%

    Student body

    5K

    What is Edmonds College known for?

    Edmonds College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  27. #23

    North Seattle College

    Seattle , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    40%

    Student body

    3K

    What is North Seattle College known for?

    North Seattle College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  28. #24

    Whatcom Community College

    Bellingham , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    34%

    Student body

    2K

    What is Whatcom Community College known for?

    Whatcom Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

  29. #25

    Tacoma Community College

    Tacoma , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    5K

    What is Tacoma Community College known for?

    Tacoma Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

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Washington’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest

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2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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. University of Washington
  2. Evergreen State College
  3. Washington State University
  4. Western Washington University
  5. University of Washington Bothell
  6. University of Washington Tacoma
  7. Eastern Washington University
  8. Central Washington University

Check out our directory of public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.

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