2023 Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Washington
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. 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. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
The Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Washington ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 27 schools in Washington to see which master's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Washington
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Washington - Seattle Campus the most popular school in Washington for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Seattle, Washington, the large public school awarded 4,293 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UW Seattle. In 2019-2020 about 7% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 27 schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington State University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Washington State University is a large public school located in Pullman, Washington that handed out 925 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Wazzu, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 30% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
The excellent master’s degree programs at Eastern Washington University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in Washington. This fairly large public school is located in Cheney, Washington, and it awarded 832 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since EWU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 27 schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Gonzaga University landed the # 4 spot on the list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Spokane, Washington, and it awarded 620 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Gonzaga does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 92% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Seattle University is a great place for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Seattle, Washington, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 589 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Seattle U does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Washington - Tacoma Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in Tacoma, Washington, the medium-sized public school handed out 416 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UW Tacoma. During the 2019-2020 year, about 4% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #7, City University of Seattle did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 404 students in 2020-2021.
Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
CityU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Central Washington University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. CWU is a public institution located in Ellensburg, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 322 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CWU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #9, Western Washington University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. WWU is located in Bellingham, Washington and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 272 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at WWU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 12% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Seattle Pacific University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 256 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at SPU. In fact, around 83% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #11, University of Washington - Bothell Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. UW Bothell is a public institution located in Bothell, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 211 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UW Bothell does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 10% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #12, Whitworth University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Spokane, Washington, and it awarded 181 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Whitworth does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 10% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Pacific Lutheran University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Tacoma, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 149 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at PLU. In 2019-2020 about 94% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Antioch University - Seattle did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. Antioch University - Seattle is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 145 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Antioch University - Seattle. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Northwest University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Washington list. Located in Kirkland, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 126 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Northwest University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 13% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Bastyr University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Kenmore, Washington, and it awarded 123 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 90% were women.
Bastyr University does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 8% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, Walla Walla University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in College Place, Washington, and it awarded 105 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 81% of those degree recipients were women.
Walla Walla U does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Heritage University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Heritage University is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Toppenish, Washington. It awarded 104 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Heritage University. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 5% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Puget Sound ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Washington list. Located in Tacoma, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 92 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
Saint Martin’s University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. Saint Martin’s is located in Lacey, Washington and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Saint Martin’s, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 98% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The Evergreen State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Evergreen is a public institution located in Olympia, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 81 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. The Seattle School is a private not-for-profit institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 57 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.
Since the graduate programs at The Seattle School are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #23, Northwest University - College of Adult and Professional Studies did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Kirkland, Washington, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 51 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Northwest University CAPS does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 93% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Northwest University - College of Adult and Professional Studies
Faith International University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Faith is located in Tacoma, Washington and has a very small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Faith. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 45% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
DigiPen Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #25 on the list. Digipen is a private for-profit institution located in Redmond, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 31% of those degree recipients were women.
Since the graduate programs at Digipen are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Most Popular Master's Degree 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
- 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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