College Costs in Washington

Washington Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2027

How much does it cost to attend college in Washington?   The average annual in-state college tuition in Washington was $15,649 for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is $2,161 lower than the U.S. average and ranks Washington in the middle of the pack as the 28th most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $1,843 from the 2022-2023 average of $13,806 and represents a 13.35% annual increase in tuition costs. The list of Washington colleges below provides school specific cost and value rating.

This analysis surveyed tuition data from the 62 colleges and universities in Washington, the most popular being University of Washington Seattle Campus with 43,652 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $12,973. Whitman College is the most expensive in Washington with an in-state tuition of $64,050.

All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS 2025 survey and reflect reported costs for academic year 2024/2025.

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Washington Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

  • Public 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • 3.5 | 6 reviews
  • $12,973 tuition
  • Nov 16 application deadline

UW is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and oceanography. The urban campus sits beside Portage Bay and Lake Washington.

#10 Best Public Universities in America 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1453
  • Avg GPA 3.82
  • Acceptance Rate 39%
  • Net Price $11,784

  • Public 4 Year
  • Pullman, WA
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • $13,391 tuition
  • Jan 31 application deadline

WSU is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and communications. Pullman is a classic college town set in the Palouse region of eastern Washington.

#3 Best Public Universities in Washington 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,171

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bellingham, WA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • $9,582 tuition
  • Jan 31 application deadline

Western Washington is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science and education. The hillside campus overlooks Bellingham Bay near the Cascade Mountains.

#2 Best Public Universities in Washington 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $24,338

  • Private 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $56,721 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Seattle University is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing and business. The urban campus sits on First Hill near downtown Seattle.

#3 Best Colleges in Washington 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $36,948

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spokane, WA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $55,480 tuition
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Gonzaga is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and engineering. The campus runs along the Spokane River in eastern Washington.

#3 Best Private Colleges in Washington 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $40,117

  • Public 4 Year
  • Ellensburg, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $9,417 tuition
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Central Washington is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and aviation. Ellensburg is a residential college town in the Kittitas Valley of central Washington.

#5 Best Public Universities in Washington 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.08
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $19,898

  • Private 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $40,407 tuition
  • Jul 11 application deadline

Seattle Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The urban campus sits in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood.

#6 Best Private Colleges in Washington 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $25,232

  • Public 4 Year
  • Cheney, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $8,586 tuition
  • Sep 10 application deadline

Eastern Washington is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and health sciences. The residential campus is in Cheney, a small college town near Spokane.

#6 Best Public Universities in Washington 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.29
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $14,767

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bellevue, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $4,436 tuition
  • Sep 15 application deadline

Bellevue College is a public community college known for nursing, information technology, and business. The suburban campus sits in Bellevue east of Seattle.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $13,932

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tacoma, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $13,168 tuition
  • Jun 30 application deadline

UW Tacoma is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, nursing, and urban studies. The campus uses renovated historic buildings in downtown Tacoma.

5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $13,898

  • Private 4 Year
  • Walla Walla, WA
  • 3.4 | 5 reviews
  • $64,050 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Whitman is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, chemistry, and environmental studies. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Walla Walla.

#1 Best Private Colleges in Washington 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $37,633

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tacoma, WA
  • 4.0 | 5 reviews
  • $62,898 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music and the natural sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in Tacoma near Commencement Bay.

#4 Best Private Colleges in Washington 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $43,188

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tacoma, WA
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews
  • $52,254 tuition
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Pacific Lutheran is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in suburban Tacoma with a Lutheran church affiliation.

#3 Best Value Colleges in Washington 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,299

  • Public 4 Year
  • Olympia, WA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews
  • $9,264 tuition

Evergreen is a public liberal arts college known for interdisciplinary programs and environmental studies. The forested campus includes Puget Sound waterfront near Olympia.

#4 Best Public Universities in Washington 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1035-1253
  • Avg GPA 3.12
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,350

  • Private 4 Year
  • Kirkland, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $36,035 tuition
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Northwest University is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, ministry, and business. The suburban campus sits in Kirkland east of Seattle.

#2 Best Value Colleges in Washington 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $24,251

  • Public 2 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $5,238 tuition

North Seattle College is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing, information technology, and business programs. The urban campus sits in Seattle's Northgate neighborhood.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $12,462

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bothell, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $12,919 tuition

UW Bothell is a public university known for undergraduate computing, business, and nursing. The suburban campus northeast of Seattle borders a restored wetlands preserve.

6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1470
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $10,777
Bates Technical College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Tacoma, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $6,027 tuition

Bates is a public technical college known for career-focused programs in the skilled trades, health sciences, and industrial technology. The urban campus is located in Tacoma.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,963