When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in Washington ranking is part of that endeavor.
After analyzing 36 schools in Washington, we came up with our list of those that offered the best bachelor's degree programs. Our ranking for the best schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. While bachelor's degree recipients from schools in Washington earn an average starting salary of $40,905, those from the top 24 school on this list made an average of $44,053.
Starting Salary ( 30523 to 54171 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their bachelor's degree.
Upon graduation, bachelor's degree recipients from schools in Washington have accumulated an average of $22,558 in student debt.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your bachelor's degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Washington for overall quality. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 9,451 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UW Seattle make an average of $45,106 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $16,918. Average monthly loan payments are around $303 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Seattle University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Washington. Located in Seattle, Washington, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,446 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Seattle U make an average of $44,571 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,566. Average monthly loan payments are around $708 for a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Gonzaga University. The school came in at #3 in Washington on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Located in Spokane, Washington, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,435 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga make an average of $42,436 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,149. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $773.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Washington State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Washington. Wazzu is a public institution located in Pullman, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,226 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Wazzu make an average of $42,233 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,465 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $312.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Washington list means Western Washington University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Bellingham, Washington, the fairly large public school handed out 3,630 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from WWU make an average of $35,133 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $20,823 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $259.
Seattle Central College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. This small public school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 113 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $71,172 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $19,250 in student loans.
City University of Seattle did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #7. CityU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 155 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $62,642 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,958 in student loans.
North Seattle College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington list. North Seattle College is a small public school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 133 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from North Seattle is $71,531 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $17,226.
Bellevue College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Bellevue, Washington, the fairly large public school handed out 260 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $48,770 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $19,775 in student loans.
With a ranking of #10, Lake Washington Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington list. LWTech is located in Kirkland, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 155 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from LWTech make an average of $56,344 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,750 after getting their degree.
Central Washington University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized public school is located in Ellensburg, Washington, and it awarded 3,157 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from CWU make an average of $38,041 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $22,521. Average monthly loan payments are around $207 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Highline College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Highline is a public institution located in Des Moines, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 66 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Puget Sound landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Tacoma, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 567 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $30,687 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,935. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $922.
With a ranking of #14, Whitman College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Walla Walla, Washington, and it awarded 345 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $27,167 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $16,952 after getting their degree.
Whitworth University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #15. Whitworth is located in Spokane, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 532 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Whitworth make an average of $38,224 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,047. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $541.
Seattle Pacific University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. SPU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 689 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from SPU is $42,258 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,919 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $394 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Pacific Lutheran University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. PLU is located in Tacoma, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 604 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from PLU make an average of $36,682 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $23,947 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $442 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #18, Eastern Washington University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington list. Located in Cheney, Washington, the fairly large public school awarded 2,346 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from EWU make an average of $37,707 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,094 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $165 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #19, Northwest University - College of Adult and Professional Studies did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington list. Northwest University CAPS is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kirkland, Washington. It awarded 125 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,775 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,121 after getting their degree.
Heritage University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Toppenish, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 160 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Heritage University is $38,999 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,964 in student loans.
Columbia Basin College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington list. CBC is a public institution located in Pasco, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 170 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from CBC go into careers with an average salary of $49,453 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $14,967 in student loans.
Saint Martin’s University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #22. Saint Martin’s University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lacey, Washington that handed out 320 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Saint Martin’s make an average of $46,630 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,297 after getting their degree.
Northwest University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Kirkland, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 230 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwest University make an average of $44,371 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,117 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $240 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #24, Walla Walla University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington list. Walla Walla U is a private not-for-profit institution located in College Place, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 329 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Walla Walla U go into careers with an average salary of $45,552 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $28,500.
The Evergreen State College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. The Evergreen State College is a small public school located in Olympia, Washington that handed out 677 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Evergreen go into careers with an average salary of $24,793 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $20,808 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $269 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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