by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Washington, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked 85 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed graduate schools 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.
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite graduate schools against each other? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Washington. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. University Of Washington Seattle Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,681. Typical student debt is $16,481.
Gonzaga University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Washington. Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit school based in Spokane, WA. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,480. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,733. Students borrow a median of $25,188 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 85 graduate schools in Washington in this year's ranking, University Of Washington Bothell Campus landed the #3 spot. Set in Bothell, WA, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,919, with out-of-state students paying around $43,155. Early-career graduates earn a median of $65,932. University Of Washington Bothell Campus students take on a median of $15,636 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Seattle University earned it the #4 place in Washington. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school based in Seattle, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees average $56,721. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,214 early in their careers. Seattle University students take on a median of $22,289 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned it the #5 place in Washington. Set in Tacoma, WA, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,168, while out-of-state students pay about $43,404. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $61,925. Typical student debt is $16,151.
Washington State University landed the #6 spot in Washington this year. Washington State University is a public school based in Pullman, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $54,697. Washington State University students take on a median of $21,903 in debt.
Seattle Pacific University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Seattle, WA, Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Seattle Pacific University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,407. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,713 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,188.
Western Washington University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Western Washington University is a public school based in Bellingham, WA. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,582, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,118. Typical student debt is $20,361.
Whitman College landed the #9 spot in Washington this year. Whitman College is a private not-for-profit school based in Walla Walla, WA. Whitman College posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees average $64,050. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,345. Typical student debt is $17,518.
Central Washington University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Ellensburg, WA, Central Washington University is a public institution. Central Washington University graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,417, while out-of-state students pay about $27,526. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,178. Graduates carry a median of $21,988 in student loans.
Pacific Lutheran University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Tacoma, WA, Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,916. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,181 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,667.
University Of Puget Sound did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Tacoma, WA, University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,898. Median early-career earnings reach $34,408. Graduates carry a median of $25,287 in student loans.
Bellevue College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Bellevue, WA, Bellevue College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,436, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Bellevue College graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,771. Typical student debt is $18,839.
Whitworth University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in Spokane, WA, Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. Graduates carry a median of $26,051 in student loans.
Northwest University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Kirkland, WA, Northwest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $36,035 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $53,910. The median student debt is $22,439.
Eastern Washington University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Cheney, WA, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Eastern Washington University graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,586, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Median early-career earnings reach $47,144. Eastern Washington University students take on a median of $21,754 in debt.
Saint Martins University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Lacey, WA, Saint Martins University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,510. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,864 early in their careers. Saint Martins University students take on a median of $22,818 in debt.
Renton Technical College placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Washington. Located in Renton, WA, Renton Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $7,768. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $80,411. Graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans.
Seattle Community College South Campus came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Seattle Community College South Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,208, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796.
Shoreline Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Shoreline, WA, Shoreline Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,115, with out-of-state students paying around $7,905. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,009 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete a degree here.
Columbia Basin College landed the #21 spot in Washington this year. This public school is set in Pasco, WA. Students from in state pay about $6,555 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,668. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $17,170.
Walla Walla University landed the #22 spot in Washington this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in College Place, WA. About 58% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,227 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,616 early in their careers. Walla Walla University students take on a median of $27,635 in debt.
City University Of Seattle landed the #23 spot in Washington this year. Located in Seattle, WA, City University Of Seattle is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,929 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $76,698. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete a degree here.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology landed the #24 spot in Washington this year. Located in Kirkland, WA, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,000. Typical student debt is $19,695.
Seattle Community College North Campus did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Seattle, WA, Seattle Community College North Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,238, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Seattle Community College North Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,739. The median student debt is $16,643.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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
See our data sources and methodologies.