Ranking

Most Selective Colleges in Washington by Acceptance Rate 2026

The hardest Washington colleges to get into — ranked by lowest undergraduate acceptance.

Schools ranked: 19
Cheapest net price: $10,163
Top earnings 10y: $79,878
Public / Private: 8 / 9

Whitman College

Walla Walla, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 38.2%
Net price: $33,313
Earnings 10y: $67,589
Acceptance: 38.2%

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

Acceptance: 39.2%
Net price: $14,091
Earnings 10y: $78,466
Acceptance: 39.2%

DigiPen Institute of Technology

Redmond, WA · Private For-Profit

Acceptance: 64.4%
Net price: $44,446
Earnings 10y: $79,878
Acceptance: 64.4%

Northwest College of Art & Design

Tacoma, WA · Private For-Profit

Acceptance: 66%
Net price: $16,418
Earnings 10y: $31,167
Acceptance: 66%

University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 72.3%
Net price: $38,394
Earnings 10y: $69,594
Acceptance: 72.3%

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 76.9%
Net price: $34,662
Earnings 10y: $75,272
Acceptance: 76.9%

Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 78%
Net price: $19,589
Earnings 10y: $66,990
Acceptance: 78%

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 81.7%
Net price: $35,119
Earnings 10y: $78,892
Acceptance: 81.7%

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

A+

Tacoma, WA · Public

Acceptance: 82.5%
Net price: $10,163
Earnings 10y: $78,466
Acceptance: 82.5%

#10

Northwest University

Kirkland, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 83.2%
Net price: $22,288
Earnings 10y: $54,914
Acceptance: 83.2%

#11

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 83.4%
Net price: $24,488
Earnings 10y: $64,506
Acceptance: 83.4%

#12

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

Acceptance: 86.6%
Net price: $14,971
Earnings 10y: $68,905
Acceptance: 86.6%

#13

Whitworth University

Spokane, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 89.8%
Net price: $26,534
Earnings 10y: $58,561
Acceptance: 89.8%

#14

Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 89.8%
Net price: $28,119
Earnings 10y: $62,092
Acceptance: 89.8%

#15

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Bothell, WA · Public

Acceptance: 90.6%
Net price: $12,319
Earnings 10y: $78,466
Acceptance: 90.6%

#16

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public

Acceptance: 90.6%
Net price: $18,476
Earnings 10y: $61,580
Acceptance: 90.6%

#17

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA · Public

Acceptance: 90.8%
Net price: $13,886
Earnings 10y: $57,897
Acceptance: 90.8%

#18

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public

Acceptance: 93.3%
Net price: $21,193
Earnings 10y: $62,569
Acceptance: 93.3%

#19

The Evergreen State College

Olympia, WA · Public

Acceptance: 96.4%
Net price: $24,319
Earnings 10y: $45,320
Acceptance: 96.4%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Washington colleges that report a standard admission rate, then sorts by acceptance rate. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 8.09 (8 public, 9 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA tops this ranking. Acceptance rate is 38.2%.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by acceptance using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Washington colleges are in this list?

19 Washington colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.