Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

57 Best Universities in Washington

Our data-driven ranking evaluates 57 elite institutions across Washington to determine true academic prominence. By assessing 636K research papers and their 29.76M citations, we reveal the most impactful research centers. With a collective network of 263.5K distinguished alumni, these universities demonstrate significant global reach and career outcomes.

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1

Seattle

University of Washington – Seattle

#8 in United States #8 in North America

39% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

2

Pullman

Washington State University

#76 in United States #86 in North America

87% Acceptance

26,384 Enrollment

1110 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

3

Seattle

Seattle University

#167 in United States #191 in North America

77% Acceptance

56,997 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

4

Bellingham

Western Washington University

#259 in United States #290 in North America

93% Acceptance

10,811 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1893 Founded

5

Tacoma

University of Puget Sound

#377 in United States #423 in North America

72% Acceptance

24,427 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1888 Founded

6

Spokane

Gonzaga University

#406 in United States #452 in North America

82% Acceptance

10,492 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

7

Ellensburg

Central Washington University

#431 in United States #478 in North America

91% Acceptance

19,951 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

8

Cheney

Eastern Washington University

#457 in United States #505 in North America

91% Acceptance

10,811 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

9

Walla Walla

Whitman College

#470 in United States #519 in North America

38% Acceptance

7,463 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1859 Founded

10

Olympia

Evergreen State College

#550 in United States #605 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,113 Enrollment

1144 Avg SAT

1967 Founded

11

Seattle

Seattle Pacific University

#554 in United States #609 in North America

83% Acceptance

3,722 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

12

Tacoma

Pacific Lutheran University

#592 in United States #649 in North America

78% Acceptance

3,722 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

13

Bellevue, WA

Bellevue College

#723 in United States #790 in North America

100% Acceptance

19,951 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

14

Kirkland

Northwest University

#743 in United States #811 in North America

83% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

1934 Founded

15

Kenmore

Bastyr University

#800 in United States #868 in North America

94% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1978 Founded

16

Seattle

City University of Seattle

#877 in United States #947 in North America

100% Acceptance

12,485 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1973 Founded

17

Spokane

Whitworth University

#885 in United States #955 in North America

90% Acceptance

10,492 Enrollment

1210 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

18

Redmond

DigiPen Institute of Technology

#1036 in United States #1110 in North America

64% Acceptance

12,485 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

$41,779 Net Price

19

Lacey

Saint Martin’s University

#1134 in United States #1209 in North America

90% Acceptance

7,463 Enrollment

1128 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

20

Seattle

Seattle Central College

#1198 in United States #1275 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,396 Enrollment

1965 Founded

21

College Place

Walla Walla University

#1204 in United States #1281 in North America

100% Acceptance

27,198 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

22

Vancouver, WA

#1238 in United States #1316 in North America

100% Acceptance

6,549 Enrollment

1405 Avg SAT

23

Seattle

North Seattle College

#1245 in United States #1323 in North America

100% Acceptance

622 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

24

Des Moines, WA

Highline College

#1258 in United States #1336 in North America

100% Acceptance

6,549 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

25

Port Angeles

Peninsula College

#1303 in United States #1381 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,722 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

26

Yakima

Yakima Valley College

#1310 in United States #1388 in North America

100% Acceptance

6,549 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

27

Toppenish

Heritage University

#1364 in United States #1444 in North America

100% Acceptance

7,463 Enrollment

1128 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

28

Lynnwood

Edmonds Community College

#1385 in United States #1467 in North America

100% Acceptance

7,463 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

29

Seattle

Cornish College of the Arts

#1392 in United States #1474 in North America

62% Acceptance

505 Enrollment

1914 Founded

$41,758 Net Price

30

Wenatchee

Wenatchee Valley College

#1408 in United States #1492 in North America

100% Acceptance

96 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

31

Tacoma

Tacoma Community College

#1441 in United States #1526 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,674 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

32

Auburn, WA

Green River College

#1451 in United States #1536 in North America

100% Acceptance

7,967 Enrollment

33

Pasco

Columbia Basin College

#1462 in United States #1548 in North America

100% Acceptance

6,237 Enrollment

1144 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

34

Bremerton

Olympic College

#1518 in United States #1604 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,784 Enrollment

35

Renton

Renton Technical College

#1613 in United States #1700 in North America

100% Acceptance

12,485 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

36

Bellingham

Whatcom Community College

#1653 in United States #1740 in North America

100% Acceptance

7,463 Enrollment

1231 Avg SAT

37

Bellingham

Northwest Indian College

#1655 in United States #1742 in North America

100% Acceptance

636 Enrollment

38

Mount Vernon, WA

Skagit Valley College

#1660 in United States #1747 in North America

100% Acceptance

4,028 Enrollment

39

Centralia, WA

Centralia College

#1664 in United States #1752 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,244 Enrollment

1925 Founded

40

Spokane

Spokane Falls Community College

#1684 in United States #1772 in North America

100% Acceptance

4,319 Enrollment

41

Yakima

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

#1686 in United States #1774 in North America

11% Acceptance

1,903 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

42

Aberdeen, WA

Grays Harbor College

#1695 in United States #1783 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,577 Enrollment

43

Kirkland

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

#1746 in United States #1835 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,564 Enrollment

1949 Founded

44

Seattle

South Seattle College

#1789 in United States #1878 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,210 Enrollment

45

Lakewood, WA

Clover Park Technical College

#1856 in United States #1947 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,408 Enrollment

46

Seattle

Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine

#1904 in United States #1996 in North America

97% Acceptance

47

Bothell

University of Washington – Bothell

#1991 in United States #2084 in North America

91% Acceptance

5,472 Enrollment

48

Tacoma

University of Washington – Tacoma

#2039 in United States #2132 in North America

83% Acceptance

4,207 Enrollment

49

Bothell

Cascadia College

#2072 in United States #2167 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,380 Enrollment

50

Seattle

Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

#2083 in United States #2179 in North America

71% Acceptance

51

Bellingham

Bellingham Technical College

#2098 in United States #2195 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,047 Enrollment

52

Spokane

Spokane Community College

#2111 in United States #2208 in North America

100% Acceptance

6,813 Enrollment

53

Vancouver, WA

Charter College

#2114 in United States #2211 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,157 Enrollment

$33,641 Net Price

54

Poulsbo

Northwest College of Art & Design

#2118 in United States #2215 in North America

66% Acceptance

139 Enrollment

$14,818 Net Price

55

Tacoma

Faith International University

#2138 in United States #2235 in North America

100% Acceptance

276 Enrollment

$25,165 Net Price

56

Seattle

Seattle Film Institute

#2291 in United States #2392 in North America

100% Acceptance

65 Enrollment

$41,595 Net Price

57

Lakewood, WA

Pierce College – Fort Steilacoom

#2471 in United States #2572 in North America

100% Acceptance

8,137 Enrollment