Best Online Colleges in Washington 2024
Find the best online colleges in Washington ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.
Top 10 Online Colleges in Washington
- University of Washington
- Washington State University
- Western Washington University
- Eastern Washington University
- Central Washington University
- City University of Seattle
- Peninsula College
- Charter College
- Northwest University
- Clark College
- University of Washington
- Washington State University
- Western Washington University
- Central Washington University
- Eastern Washington University
- City University of Seattle
- Peninsula College
- Northwest University
- Charter College
- Clark College
- Eastern Washington University 96%
- Northwest University 94%
- Western Washington University 93%
- Central Washington University 93%
- Washington State University 83%
- University of Washington 48%
- Charter College 25 to 1
- University of Washington 21 to 1
- Eastern Washington University 19 to 1
- Western Washington University 17 to 1
- Washington State University 15 to 1
- Central Washington University 14 to 1
- Peninsula College 14 to 1
- Clark College 12 to 1
- Northwest University 9 to 1
- City University of Seattle 6 to 1
- Northwest University $35,000
- Charter College $17,116
- City University of Seattle $13,558
- University of Washington $11,189
- Washington State University $10,708
- Western Washington University $7,760
- Eastern Washington University $7,104
- Central Washington University $6,816
- Clark College $4,203
- Peninsula College $3,927
- Northwest University $19,188
- University of Washington $17,004
- Eastern Washington University $12,723
- Washington State University $12,366
- City University of Seattle $11,812
- Western Washington University $11,756
- Central Washington University $10,401
- Clark College
- Northwest University
- Charter College
- Peninsula College
- City University of Seattle
- Central Washington University
- Eastern Washington University
- Western Washington University
- Washington State University
- University of Washington
- Clark College
- Charter College
- Northwest University
- Peninsula College
- City University of Seattle
- Eastern Washington University
- Central Washington University
- Western Washington University
- Washington State University
- University of Washington
- University of Washington 48%
- Washington State University 83%
- Central Washington University 93%
- Western Washington University 93%
- Northwest University 94%
- Eastern Washington University 96%
- City University of Seattle 6 to 1
- Northwest University 9 to 1
- Clark College 12 to 1
- Central Washington University 14 to 1
- Peninsula College 14 to 1
- Washington State University 15 to 1
- Western Washington University 17 to 1
- Eastern Washington University 19 to 1
- University of Washington 21 to 1
- Charter College 25 to 1
- Peninsula College $3,927
- Clark College $4,203
- Central Washington University $6,816
- Eastern Washington University $7,104
- Western Washington University $7,760
- Washington State University $10,708
- University of Washington $11,189
- City University of Seattle $13,558
- Charter College $17,116
- Northwest University $35,000
- Central Washington University $10,401
- Western Washington University $11,756
- City University of Seattle $11,812
- Washington State University $12,366
- Eastern Washington University $12,723
- University of Washington $17,004
- Northwest University $19,188
Featured Programs
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?
- 5 Research Universities
- 42 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 8 Graduate Schools
- 32 Public Colleges & Universities
- 15 Private Colleges & Universities
- 8 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 27 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 35 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 33 Community Colleges
- Best Online Colleges
Washington’s Best Overall
10 Best Online Colleges in Washington 2023
- #1 15 Best Self-paced Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #5 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #5 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
84%
Student body
58K
Career Outlook for degree at University of Washington
Cost of Degree: $12,643Expenses: $21,909Starting Salary: $69,600Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BA Integrated Social Sciences
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Early Care & Education
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Colleges in Washington 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in Washington 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Washington 2025
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
62%
Student body
33K
Career Outlook for degree at Washington State University
Cost of Degree: $12,997Expenses: $17,535Starting Salary: $56,600Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BS Biology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Environmental and Ecosystem Sciences
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Sociology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Accounting
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Economics
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Anthropology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Data Analytics
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA English
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of History
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Humanities
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Management Information Systems
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Marketing
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Political Science
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Washington 2025 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2024 #4 Best Public Colleges in Washington 2025 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
65%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1235/27
Career Outlook for degree at Western Washington University
Cost of Degree: $9,286Expenses: $20,681Starting Salary: $50,600Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BA Human Services
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Multidisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2024 #5 Best Public Colleges in Washington 2025 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Washington 2025 #9 Best Colleges in Washington 2025
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
50%
Student body
16K
Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Washington University
Cost of Degree: $8,353Expenses: $19,545Starting Salary: $46,700Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BA Addiction Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Children's Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Communication Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Public Relations
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Dental Hygiene
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Health Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Health Science
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2024 #6 Best Public Colleges in Washington 2025 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Washington 2025 #10 Best Colleges in Washington 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
52%
Student body
12K
Career Outlook for degree at Central Washington University
Cost of Degree: $9,192Expenses: $21,246Starting Salary: $50,100Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BA Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Geography
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Social Services
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Sociology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Aviation Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA English
Concentrations
- Professional and Creative Writing
- English Language and Literature
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Information Technology and Administrative Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BAS Information Technology and Administrative Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Law and Justice
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Paramedicine
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Public Health
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Risk, Insurance, and Safety Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BAS Risk, Insurance, and Safety Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BAS Supply Chain Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Grad Schools in Washington 2025 #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington 2024 #8 Best Small Colleges in Washington 2025 #8 Best Private Colleges in Washington 2024
Tuition + fees
$14K
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at City University of Seattle
Cost of Degree: $13,965Expenses: $14,325Starting Salary: $53,400Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BA Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Data Analytics
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Applied Computer Science
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Cybersecurity
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Data Science
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Information Systems
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Information Technology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Applied Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS General Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Project Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
42%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Peninsula College
Cost of Degree: $4,586Starting Salary: $33,100Online Bachelor's Degrees
BA Accounting
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Entrepreneurship Foundations
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$17K
Graduation
55%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at Charter College
Cost of Degree: $18,075Starting Salary: $46,400Online Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor of Healthcare
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Computer Information Systems
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Business Office Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Christian Colleges in Washington 2024 #8 Best Grad Schools in Washington 2025 #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Washington 2025 #4 Best Online MBA Programs in Washington
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
68%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1185/26
Career Outlook for degree at Northwest University
Cost of Degree: $36,035Expenses: $14,812Starting Salary: $46,300Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Bachelor's Degrees
BA Humanitarian Leadership
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Ministry Leadership
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Psychology
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Business Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BS Nursing (RN-to-BSN)
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Communication
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
BA Organizational Management
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Washington #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Washington 2025
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
39%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for degree at Clark College
Cost of Degree: $4,632Starting Salary: $38,100Online Bachelor's Degrees
BAS Cybersecurity
- Required Credits: 120-128
- Completion time: 4-6 years
- Format: Online
Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?
If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.
In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.
Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.
Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.
As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).
While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
Resources for Online College-Bound Students
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.