Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2023

Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2023
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Washington. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2022

  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. City University of Seattle
  8. Bellevue College
  9. University of Washington Tacoma
  10. University of Washington Bothell

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?

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There are 35 colleges and universities in Washington with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Washington is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

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Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2022

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

  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

  9. #8

    Bellevue College

    Bellevue , WA
    #1 Best Community Colleges in Washington 2023 #7 Best Public 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

  10. #9

    University of Washington Tacoma

    Tacoma , WA
    #8 Best Public 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

  11. #10

    University of Washington Bothell

    Bothell , WA
    #9 Best Public 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

  14. #12

    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

  15. #13

    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

  16. #14

    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

  17. #15

    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

  19. #16

    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

  20. #17

    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:

  21. #18

    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

  22. #19

    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

  23. #20

    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

  25. #21

    Charter College

    Vancouver , WA

    Tuition + fees

    $17K

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    7K

    What is Charter College known for?

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

  26. #22

    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

  27. #23

    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

  28. #24

    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

  29. #25

    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:

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Washington’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

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2021 Ranking Archive
  1. Eastern Washington University
  2. Evergreen State College
  3. Central Washington University
  4. Western Washington University
  5. University of Washington Bothell
  6. University of Washington
  7. University of Washington Tacoma
  8. Washington State University
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