Best Value Washington Colleges

Washington has 15 colleges ranked by value, part of our national best value ranking. We weigh academic quality against average net price so you find schools that deliver strong results without overpaying.

University of Washington Seattle Campus offers the best value in Washington 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: Northwest University, Pacific Lutheran University and Whitman College.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by net price, acceptance rate, or academic rating to find the best deal for your budget.

15 Results
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Washington 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 Washington 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1453
  • Avg GPA 3.82
  • Acceptance Rate 39%
  • Net Price $11,784
Details

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bellingham, WA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 31 application deadline

Western Washington is a public university known for undergraduate environmental science and education. The hillside campus overlooks Bellingham Bay near the Cascade Mountains.

#11 Best Value in Washington 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1390
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $24,338
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Ellensburg, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Central Washington is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and aviation. Ellensburg is a residential college town in the Kittitas Valley of central Washington.

#12 Best Value in Washington 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.08
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $19,898
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Cheney, WA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Sep 10 application deadline

Eastern Washington is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and health sciences. The residential campus is in Cheney, a small college town near Spokane.

#13 Best Value in Washington 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.29
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $14,767
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Olympia, WA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews

Evergreen is a public liberal arts college known for interdisciplinary programs and environmental studies. The forested campus includes Puget Sound waterfront near Olympia.

#14 Best Value in Washington 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1035-1253
  • Avg GPA 3.12
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,350
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lacey, WA
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 31 application deadline

Saint Martin's is a private Benedictine university known for undergraduate engineering, education, and business. The suburban campus sits in Lacey near Washington's state capital of Olympia.

#15 Best Value in Washington 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1025-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $29,116
Details