Most Selective Washington Colleges
Washington has 2 four-year colleges that accept 50% or fewer of applicants, ranked from most to least selective.
Whitman College is the hardest to get into in Washington, accepting just 38% of 7,243 applicants. Also highly selective: University of Washington Seattle Campus.
Selectivity does not always equal academic difficulty. Some schools admit a small share of applicants because demand exceeds capacity, not because admission standards are extreme. If you need safety schools, see our highest acceptance rate colleges in Washington. For academically demanding options, explore colleges with the highest SAT, highest ACT, and highest GPA averages.
Whitman College
- Private 4 Year
- Walla Walla, WA
-
3.4 | 5 reviews
- 38% acceptance rate
- 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.
- SAT Range 1310-1480
- Avg GPA 3.68
- Net Price $37,633
University of Washington Seattle Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Seattle, WA
-
3.5 | 6 reviews
- 39% acceptance rate
- 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.
- SAT Range 1200-1453
- Avg GPA 3.82
- Net Price $11,784