Best Value Pacific Northwestern Colleges

There are 35 colleges in the Pacific Northwest ranked by value using the same methodology as our national list. Rankings balance academic quality with the net price students typically pay.

University of Washington Seattle Campus leads Pacific Northwest value rankings for 2027 with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $11,784. The top value public university is also University of Washington Seattle Campus. Also high value: Reed College, University of Portland and Northwest University.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states.

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Pacific Northwest Public Private 4 Year

  • Public 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • 3.5 | 6 reviews
  • Nov 16 application deadline

UW is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and oceanography. The urban campus sits beside Portage Bay and Lake Washington.

#1 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1453
  • Avg GPA 3.82
  • Acceptance Rate 39%
  • Net Price $11,784

  • Private 4 Year
  • Portland, OR
  • | 0 reviews

Reed is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and humanities. All seniors complete a required year-long thesis on a wooded residential campus in southeast Portland.

#2 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1290-1520
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 25%
  • Net Price $30,953

  • Private 4 Year
  • Portland, OR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

University of Portland is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, engineering, and business. The campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River in North Portland.

#3 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $30,985

  • Private 4 Year
  • Kirkland, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Northwest University is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, ministry, and business. The suburban campus sits in Kirkland east of Seattle.

#4 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1350
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $24,251

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tacoma, WA
  • 3.3 | 3 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Pacific Lutheran is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, music, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in suburban Tacoma with a Lutheran church affiliation.

#5 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,299

  • Private 4 Year
  • Walla Walla, WA
  • 3.4 | 5 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Whitman is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, chemistry, and environmental studies. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Walla Walla.

#6 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1310-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $37,633

  • Private 4 Year
  • Caldwell, ID
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

The College of Idaho is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and a PEAK curriculum that pairs a major with three minors. The residential campus sits in the small city of Caldwell west of Boise.

#7 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1280
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 49%
  • Net Price $21,686

  • Private 4 Year
  • McMinnville, OR
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Linfield is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and wine studies. The residential campus sits in the small college town of McMinnville in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

#8 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $29,936

  • Private 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 11 application deadline

Seattle Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The urban campus sits in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood.

#9 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $25,232

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spokane, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Whitworth is a private Presbyterian university known for undergraduate education, business, and the sciences. The wooded residential campus sits in north Spokane.

#10 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $27,605

  • Private 4 Year
  • Salem, OR
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Willamette is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate political science and government. The historic campus borders the Oregon State Capitol grounds in downtown Salem.

#11 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $29,421

  • Private 4 Year
  • Seattle, WA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Seattle University is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing and business. The urban campus sits on First Hill near downtown Seattle.

#12 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1430
  • Avg GPA 3.62
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $36,948

  • Private 4 Year
  • Portland, OR
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Lewis & Clark is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate international affairs and environmental studies. The wooded campus sits in the hills of southwest Portland.

#13 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1210-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.95
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $37,999

  • Private 4 Year
  • Spokane, WA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Gonzaga is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and engineering. The campus runs along the Spokane River in eastern Washington.

#14 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.67
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $40,117

  • Public 4 Year
  • Pullman, WA
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 31 application deadline

WSU is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and communications. Pullman is a classic college town set in the Palouse region of eastern Washington.

#15 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,171

  • Public 4 Year
  • Corvallis, OR
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Oregon State is a large public university known for undergraduate forestry, marine science, and engineering. Corvallis is a college town built around the campus in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

#16 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1400
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $22,467

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tacoma, WA
  • 4.0 | 5 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music and the natural sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in Tacoma near Commencement Bay.

#17 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1380
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $43,188

  • Private 4 Year
  • Newberg, OR
  • | 0 reviews

George Fox is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The residential campus sits in the Willamette Valley town of Newberg near Portland.

#18 Best Value in the Pacific Northwest 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $32,171