Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Washington
44 accredited institutions in Washington offering liberal arts programs, ranked by annual graduates (IPEDS 2023–24).
44
Colleges
39,237
Graduates/yr
37
Public
Associate's
Top Degree
Ranked: Liberal Arts Programs in Washington
1
PublicAssociate's
Pierce College District
Lakewood
3,513
Graduates/yr
$4,074
In-State Tuition
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2
PublicAssociate's
Bellevue College
Bellevue
2,784
Graduates/yr
$4,074
In-State Tuition
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3
PublicAssociate's
Columbia Basin College
Pasco
2,331
Graduates/yr
$5,514
In-State Tuition
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4
PublicAssociate's
Green River College
Auburn
2,148
Graduates/yr
$4,074
In-State Tuition
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5
PublicAssociate's
Clark College
Vancouver
2,133
Graduates/yr
$4,306
In-State Tuition
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6
PublicAssociate's
Everett Community College
Everett
2,124
Graduates/yr
$4,046
In-State Tuition
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7
PublicAssociate's
Olympic College
Bremerton
2,040
Graduates/yr
$4,197
In-State Tuition
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8
PublicAssociate's
Spokane Falls Community College
Spokane
1,761
Graduates/yr
$3,195
In-State Tuition
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9
PublicAssociate's
South Puget Sound Community College
Olympia
1,650
Graduates/yr
$4,623
In-State Tuition
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10
PublicAssociate's
Tacoma Community College
Tacoma
1,647
Graduates/yr
$4,477
In-State Tuition
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11
PublicAssociate's
Wenatchee Valley College
Wenatchee
1,263
Graduates/yr
$4,623
In-State Tuition
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12
PublicAssociate's
Shoreline Community College
Shoreline
1,239
Graduates/yr
$3,648
In-State Tuition
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13
PublicAssociate's
Highline College
Des Moines
1,227
Graduates/yr
$3,633
In-State Tuition
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14
PublicAssociate's
Spokane Community College
Spokane
1,188
Graduates/yr
$3,195
In-State Tuition
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15
PublicAssociate's
Whatcom Community College
Bellingham
1,149
Graduates/yr
$3,633
In-State Tuition
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16
PublicBachelor's
The Evergreen State College
Olympia
1,089
Graduates/yr
97%
Acceptance
$7,845
In-State Tuition
44%
Grad Rate
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17
PublicAssociate's
Yakima Valley College
Yakima
1,065
Graduates/yr
$4,623
In-State Tuition
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18
PublicAssociate's
Seattle Central College
Seattle
954
Graduates/yr
$4,458
In-State Tuition
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19
PublicAssociate's
Skagit Valley College
Mount Vernon
915
Graduates/yr
$4,623
In-State Tuition
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20
PublicAssociate's
Edmonds College
Lynnwood
897
Graduates/yr
$4,073
In-State Tuition
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21
PublicAssociate's
Big Bend Community College
Moses Lake
855
Graduates/yr
$4,623
In-State Tuition
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22
PublicAssociate's
Lower Columbia College
Longview
804
Graduates/yr
$3,988
In-State Tuition
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23
PublicAssociate's
Centralia College
Centralia
708
Graduates/yr
$4,623
In-State Tuition
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24
PublicAssociate's
South Seattle College
Seattle
636
Graduates/yr
$4,458
In-State Tuition
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25
PublicAssociate's
Walla Walla Community College
Walla Walla
636
Graduates/yr
$6,513
In-State Tuition
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26
PublicAssociate's
North Seattle College
Seattle
612
Graduates/yr
$4,458
In-State Tuition
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27
PublicAssociate's
Grays Harbor College
Aberdeen
564
Graduates/yr
$4,074
In-State Tuition
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28
PublicAssociate's
Peninsula College
Port Angeles
531
Graduates/yr
$4,074
In-State Tuition
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29
PublicBachelor's
Washington State University
Pullman
243
Graduates/yr
85%
Acceptance
$10,976
In-State Tuition
62%
Grad Rate
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30
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle
90
Graduates/yr
91%
Acceptance
$37,965
Tuition
62%
Grad Rate
$18,413
Net Price <$30K
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31
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Seattle University
Seattle
81
Graduates/yr
76%
Acceptance
$53,235
Tuition
73%
Grad Rate
$23,825
Net Price <$30K
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32
PublicBachelor's
Central Washington University
Ellensburg
78
Graduates/yr
90%
Acceptance
$7,021
In-State Tuition
50%
Grad Rate
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33
PublicAssociate's
Renton Technical College
Renton
63
Graduates/yr
$4,673
In-State Tuition
78%
Grad Rate
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34
PublicAssociate's
Clover Park Technical College
Lakewood
45
Graduates/yr
$5,740
In-State Tuition
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35
Private NonprofitAssociate's
City University of Seattle
Seattle
36
Graduates/yr
$13,965
Tuition
0%
Grad Rate
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36
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Walla Walla University
College Place
33
Graduates/yr
$31,899
Tuition
63%
Grad Rate
$16,395
Net Price <$30K
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37
PublicBachelor's
Western Washington University
Bellingham
24
Graduates/yr
91%
Acceptance
$7,997
In-State Tuition
66%
Grad Rate
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38
PublicBachelor's
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle
21
Graduates/yr
43%
Acceptance
$11,524
In-State Tuition
84%
Grad Rate
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39
PublicAssociate's
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland
21
Graduates/yr
$3,195
In-State Tuition
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40
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Whitman College
Walla Walla
15
Graduates/yr
50%
Acceptance
$61,070
Tuition
81%
Grad Rate
$20,462
Net Price <$30K
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41
PublicAssociate's
Bellingham Technical College
Bellingham
9
Graduates/yr
$3,195
In-State Tuition
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42
PublicBachelor's
Eastern Washington University
Cheney
6
Graduates/yr
92%
Acceptance
$7,294
In-State Tuition
47%
Grad Rate
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43
Private NonprofitAssociate's
Northwest University
Kirkland
6
Graduates/yr
88%
Acceptance
$35,535
Tuition
63%
Grad Rate
$18,753
Net Price <$30K
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44
Private NonprofitAssociate's
Heritage University
Toppenish
3
Graduates/yr
$19,920
Tuition
40%
Grad Rate
$5,164
Net Price <$30K
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Studying Liberal Arts in Washington
Washington has 44 accredited colleges offering liberal arts programs, producing 39,237 graduates annually. Of these, 37 are public institutions with subsidized in-state tuition for Washington residents.
When evaluating programs, consider accreditation, internship placement rates, and faculty expertise. Always file the FAFSA — the net price after grants can be dramatically lower than sticker tuition, especially at public institutions.
Other Programs in Washington
Communications TechnologyComputer SciencePersonal & Culinary ServicesEducationEngineeringEngineering TechnologyForeign LanguagesFamily & Consumer SciencesLegal Studies / Pre-LawEnglishLibrary ScienceBiologyMathematics & StatisticsMilitary ScienceInterdisciplinary StudiesParks & RecreationPhilosophy & Religious StudiesTheology & MinistryPhysical SciencesScience Technology
Data source: Graduate counts from IPEDS 2023–24 C2023_A Completions survey (NCES). Tuition, acceptance rate, and graduation rate from IPEDS HD2023, ADM2023, DRVGR2023.