2023 Best Schools in Washington
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Schools in Washington to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 46 schools in Washington to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Schools in Washington
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Washington - Tacoma Campus to be the best school for students in Washington.
Degree recipients from UW Tacoma accumulate an average of $18,619 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $258 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UW Tacoma graduates make an average of $52,004 annually.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a great place for students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,284 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $303, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UW Seattle graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,782 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on University of Washington - Seattle Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Washington - Bothell Campus. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Schools in Washington list.
Degree recipients from UW Bothell accumulate an average of $17,547 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $263 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UW Bothell graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,527 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Gonzaga University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Washington.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,118 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $773 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Gonzaga graduates make an average of $51,213 annually.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Saint Martin’s University is a great place for students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,178 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Saint Martin’s graduates make an average of $50,383 annually.
With a ranking of #6, Seattle Pacific University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from SPU accumulate an average of $23,778 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $394. Once they receive their degree, SPU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,703 during the early year of their career.
Bellevue College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #7 on the list.
On average, students take out $19,741 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, BC graduates make an average of $53,966 annually.
University of Puget Sound came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Washington ranking.
Degree recipients from Puget Sound accumulate an average of $21,751 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $922. Once they receive their degree, Puget Sound graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,479 during the early year of their career.
Washington State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,489 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $312 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Wazzu graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,774 during the early year of their career.
Seattle University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Washington ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,543 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $708, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Seattle U graduates make an average of $51,066 annually.
Central Washington University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #11 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,759 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $204, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from CWU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,823 during the early years of their career.
Whitworth University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Washington ranking.
Degree recipients from Whitworth accumulate an average of $26,989 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $541, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Whitworth graduates make an average of $43,444 annually.
Pacific Lutheran University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #13 on the list.
On average, students take out $23,517 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $442. Once they receive their degree, PLU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,047 during the early year of their career.
North Seattle College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from North Seattle accumulate an average of $17,979 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, North Seattle graduates make an average of $52,851 annually.
Charter College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #15 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,228 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Charter College graduates make an average of $35,122 annually.
Whitman College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Schools in Washington list.
During the early years of their career, Whitman graduates make an average of $27,167 annually.
Highline College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Washington ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,827 in student loans.After graduating from Highline, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,918 during the early years of their career.
Western Washington University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #18 on the list.
On average, students take out $20,477 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $259, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from WWU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,481 during the early years of their career.
Centralia College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #19 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,250 in student loans.After graduating from Centralia College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,843 during the early years of their career.
City University of Seattle ranked #20 on this year’s Best Schools in Washington list.
Degree recipients from CityU accumulate an average of $29,693 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CityU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $68,145 during the early years of their career.
Columbia Basin College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Washington ranking.
Degree recipients from CBC accumulate an average of $18,350 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CBC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,655 during the early years of their career.
Heritage University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Schools in Washington list.
Degree recipients from Heritage University accumulate an average of $21,537 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Heritage University graduates make an average of $48,496 annually.
Eastern Washington University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Washington ranking.
On average, students take out $23,697 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $165.After graduating from EWU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,008 during the early years of their career.
Northwest University - College of Adult and Professional Studies ranked #24 on this year’s Best Schools in Washington list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,959 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Northwest University CAPS graduates make an average of $39,631 annually.
Full Northwest University - College of Adult and Professional Studies Report
Olympic College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Washington ranking.
Degree recipients from OC accumulate an average of $14,653 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from OC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,431 during the early years of their career.
Best Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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