The Best Washington Colleges

The Best Colleges in Washington for 2024

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in Washington as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2024 as the best overall college in Washington is Whitman College. The top rated public state college is University of Washington Seattle Campus. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


15 results

Whitman College
W
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,493enrollment
  • $39,935net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1293-1473SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Washington Seattle Campus
W
Seattle, WA

University of Washington Seattle Campus

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#8 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,319enrollment
  • $10,603net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1453SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 16

Seattle University
S
Seattle, WA

Seattle University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Washington

  • 7,121enrollment
  • $35,412net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Gonzaga University
G
Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 7,253enrollment
  • $38,727net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Puget Sound
P
Tacoma, WA

University of Puget Sound

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,023enrollment
  • $41,363net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1390SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Seattle Pacific University
S
Seattle, WA

Seattle Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 3,118enrollment
  • $26,549net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1350SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 11

Whitworth University
W
Spokane, WA

Whitworth University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 2,415enrollment
  • $28,299net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1350SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Pacific Lutheran University
P
Tacoma, WA

Pacific Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Washington

  • 2,633enrollment
  • $24,825net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1253-1423SAT range
  • 27-30ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Northwest University
N
Kirkland, WA

Northwest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,014enrollment
  • $23,722net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1320SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Western Washington University
W
Bellingham, WA

Western Washington University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 14,747enrollment
  • $21,105net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

Washington State University
W
Pullman, WA

Washington State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 27,539enrollment
  • $17,911net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

The Evergreen State College
E
Olympia, WA

The Evergreen State College

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 2,105enrollment
  • $16,318net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 980-1220SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

Central Washington University
C
Ellensburg, WA

Central Washington University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 9,257enrollment
  • $15,864net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 930-1150SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.08Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Saint Martin's University
S
Lacey, WA

Saint Martin's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Washington

  • 1,609enrollment
  • $21,811net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 925-1180SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

Eastern Washington University
E
Cheney, WA

Eastern Washington University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Washington

  • 10,910enrollment
  • $12,827net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 880-1090SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 10