Top Rated Washington Public Colleges

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in Washington as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the best public college in Washington is University of Washington Seattle Campus. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.

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Washington Public 4 Year
University of Washington Seattle Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • 3.5 | 6 reviews
  • 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
Details
Western Washington University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Bellingham, WA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • 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
Details
Washington State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Pullman, WA
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • 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
Details
The Evergreen State College Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Olympia, WA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews

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
Details
Central Washington University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Ellensburg, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • 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
Details
Eastern Washington University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Cheney, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • 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
Details