by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Washington, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **50** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 50 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Here are the top-ranked colleges:
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Washington. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,681. Graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
Out of the 50 colleges in Washington in this year's ranking, Gonzaga University landed the #2 spot. Set in Spokane, WA, Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit institution. Gonzaga University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,733. Gonzaga University students take on a median of $25,188 in debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Washington Bothell Campus one of the top colleges in Washington. Based in Bothell, WA, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $12,919 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,155. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,932. Typical student debt is $15,636.
A rank of #4 makes Seattle University one of the top colleges in Washington. Set in Seattle, WA, Seattle University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees average $56,721. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,214. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Tacoma, WA. About 63% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,168 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,404 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $61,925. Typical student debt is $16,151.
Washington State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Washington State University is a public school based in Pullman, WA. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $13,391 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Washington State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,697. Washington State University students take on a median of $21,903 in debt.
Seattle Pacific University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Seattle, WA, Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,407. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,713. Seattle Pacific University students take on a median of $25,188 in debt.
Western Washington University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Bellingham, WA. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,582 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,118. Typical student debt is $20,361.
Whitman College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Whitman College is a private not-for-profit school based in Walla Walla, WA. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $64,050. Median early-career earnings reach $32,345. Whitman College students take on a median of $17,518 in debt.
Central Washington University placed #10 among the best colleges in Washington. Central Washington University is a public school based in Ellensburg, WA. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,417, while out-of-state students pay about $27,526. Central Washington University graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,178. Central Washington University students take on a median of $21,988 in debt.
Pacific Lutheran University placed #11 among the best colleges in Washington. Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school based in Tacoma, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. In-state tuition and fees average $50,916. Median early-career earnings reach $49,181. Typical student debt is $23,667.
University Of Puget Sound came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Tacoma, WA, University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Puget Sound graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,898. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,408 early in their careers. University Of Puget Sound students take on a median of $25,287 in debt.
Bellevue College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Bellevue, WA. Students from in state pay about $4,436 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,502. Bellevue College graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,771. Students borrow a median of $18,839 to complete a degree here.
Whitworth University placed #14 among the best colleges in Washington. Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit school based in Spokane, WA. About 71% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $52,880. Whitworth University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,998. Whitworth University students take on a median of $26,051 in debt.
Northwest University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Kirkland, WA, Northwest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwest University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $36,035. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,910 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,439.
Eastern Washington University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Cheney, WA, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Eastern Washington University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. Students from in state pay about $8,586 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,583 for out-of-state students. Eastern Washington University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,144. Typical student debt is $21,754.
Saint Martins University placed #17 among the best colleges in Washington. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lacey, WA. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $45,510. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,864 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,818 to complete a degree here.
Renton Technical College landed the #18 spot in Washington this year. Set in Renton, WA, Renton Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $80,411. The median student debt is $18,582.
Seattle Community College South Campus placed #19 among the best colleges in Washington. Set in Seattle, WA, Seattle Community College South Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,208, compared with $5,796 for out-of-state students.
Shoreline Community College placed #20 among the best colleges in Washington. This public school is set in Shoreline, WA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,115, while out-of-state students pay about $7,905. Median early-career earnings reach $62,009. Shoreline Community College students take on a median of $16,700 in debt.
Columbia Basin College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Pasco, WA, Columbia Basin College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,555, compared with $8,668 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,976 early in their careers. The median student debt is $17,170.
Walla Walla University placed #22 among the best colleges in Washington. This private not-for-profit school is set in College Place, WA. Walla Walla University graduates 58% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,227 in tuition and fees. Walla Walla University graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,616. The median student debt is $27,635.
City University Of Seattle did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Seattle, WA, City University Of Seattle is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,929. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,698 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #24 position. Set in Kirkland, WA, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Median early-career earnings reach $60,000. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete a degree here.
Seattle Community College North Campus placed #25 among the best colleges in Washington. Located in Seattle, WA, Seattle Community College North Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,238, compared with $5,796 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,739. Typical student debt is $16,643.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.