State Hub

Colleges in Washington

CampusPin tracks 73 colleges in Washington — 63 universities and 10 community colleges. Compare tuition, acceptance, size, and setting to build a shortlist that fits.

Colleges tracked

73

Universities

63

Community colleges

10

Avg. in-state tuition

$15k

About college search in Washington

How Washington's higher-education landscape shapes a search

Washington’s public higher-education sector includes six public universities and 34 community and technical colleges. The University of Washington System operates three campuses (Seattle flagship, Bothell, Tacoma). Washington State University (Pullman) is the state’s land-grant institution with additional campuses in Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Everett. Other publics include Western Washington (Bellingham), Central Washington (Ellensburg), Eastern Washington (Cheney), and The Evergreen State College (Olympia — a public liberal-arts college). The Washington College Grant is among the more generous state aid programs in the U.S., covering tuition for eligible low- and middle-income in-state students.

UW as flagship

The University of Washington in Seattle is the state’s primary public flagship and one of the more selective public research universities in the U.S.

WSU as land-grant

Washington State University in Pullman is the state’s land-grant institution, with additional regional campuses statewide.

34 community and technical colleges

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) coordinates 34 colleges — one of the larger CC networks per capita in the U.S.

Washington College Grant

The Washington College Grant covers tuition for eligible low- and middle-income in-state students at public colleges and participating private institutions — among the more generous state aid programs in the U.S.

Public university system

Washington public universities (6 institutions)

Washington operates six public universities: UW (Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma), WSU (Pullman plus regional campuses), Western Washington (Bellingham), Central Washington (Ellensburg), Eastern Washington (Cheney), and The Evergreen State College (Olympia).

Community college network

Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) — 34 colleges

SBCTC coordinates Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges with formal transfer paths via Direct Transfer Agreements (DTAs) to the public universities.

In-state vs. out-of-state tuition

Washington in-state public tuition is in the mid-range nationally. The Washington College Grant covers tuition for eligible low- and middle-income in-state students. Verify current eligibility with the Washington Student Achievement Council.

Top metros for college search

Where Washington's higher-education density concentrates

  • Seattle metro

    Seattle hosts the University of Washington, Seattle University (private), Seattle Pacific (private), and the Seattle Colleges (CCs).

  • Pullman / Spokane

    Pullman is the home of Washington State University; Spokane (north) hosts Gonzaga University (private), Eastern Washington (Cheney nearby), and the WSU Spokane campus.

  • Bellingham

    Bellingham is the home of Western Washington University.

  • Tacoma

    Tacoma hosts the University of Washington Tacoma, the University of Puget Sound (private), and Pacific Lutheran University.

  • Olympia

    Olympia (state capital) is the home of The Evergreen State College, a public liberal-arts college with a distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum.

West region overview

What students weigh when searching colleges in Washington

Across Washington (WA), CampusPin currently indexes 73 institutions: 42 public and 31 private, split between 63 universities and 10 community colleges. Students often deal with large geographic spread, strong public systems, and meaningful differences between urban, suburban, and remote options.

Compare travel distance and delivery format early so your list reflects how you would actually attend.
Use online and hybrid filters when geography is broad but schedule flexibility matters.
Review campus environment and support detail carefully because Western state searches can mix very different school contexts.

Browse by major

Washington colleges by program

Jump straight to Washington colleges and universities that offer a specific major. Each page compares tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment for that program across Washington.

Every college we track

Colleges and universities in Washington

Showing 60 of 73 — use search or filters to see the rest.

Filter all Washington schools

How to use the Washington hub

Start with CampusPin results filtered to Washington so your first pass stays geographically focused.
Use school profiles to compare tuition, admissions, program format, and campus fit before building a shortlist.
If you are looking for lower-cost or transfer-first options, compare community colleges and four-year destinations separately.
Use blog guides and help-center content when you need stronger decision frameworks, not just more schools.

Next actions for Washington

Explore all colleges in WashingtonView community colleges in WashingtonView online programs in WashingtonRead planning guides before you compare

Frequently asked questions

Questions families ask about colleges in Washington

Which is the public flagship university in Washington?
The University of Washington in Seattle is the state’s primary public flagship and one of the more selective public research universities in the U.S. Washington State University in Pullman is the state’s land-grant institution.
How does the Washington College Grant work?
The Washington College Grant covers tuition for eligible Washington residents from low- and middle-income families at public colleges and participating private institutions. Award amounts vary by family income and institution type. Verify current eligibility with the Washington Student Achievement Council.
How many HBCUs are in Washington?
Washington has no federally designated HBCUs.
What is The Evergreen State College?
The Evergreen State College in Olympia is a public liberal-arts college with a distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum: students work in "programs" (multi-credit interdisciplinary courses) rather than traditional departmental majors, and faculty write narrative evaluations instead of letter grades.

Related blog clusters

Guides that pair well with a Washington search

Cost and Financial Aid

College affordability, net price, aid interpretation, borrowing decisions, and budgeting guidance for students and families using CampusPin to compare higher-ed options with more discipline.

Community College

Community-college strategy, affordability, transfer readiness, and credential pathway content for students exploring two-year options through CampusPin.

College Search Strategy

Filter-first search strategy, shortlist building, and planning content for students and parents using CampusPin to discover best-fit colleges and universities.

Help Center

Workflow guides for students searching in Washington

Getting Started With CampusPin

A fast orientation to the CampusPin workflow, from your first search through profile review, pins, and next-step planning.

How to Use Filters to Narrow Your College List

A practical help article on how to use CampusPin filters without over-filtering or locking yourself into the wrong criteria too early.

How to Read a CampusPin School Profile

A guide to the major sections inside a CampusPin institution profile and how to interpret them effectively. Each page is designed to connect search intent to clearer next steps, internal links, and more defensible CampusPin decisions.