Washington State Colleges and Universities Guide 2024-2025

The University of Washington Seattle campus has an acceptance rate of 39.5% for Fall 2024, with 74,603 applications received. Acceptance rates vary significantly by residency:

By Residency (Class of 2028):

• Washington Residents: 48% acceptance rate
• Out-of-State Students: 36% acceptance rate

Enrollment (Fall 2024): UW enrolled 62,752 students across three campuses - 51,719 at Seattle (35,397 undergraduates, 16,322 graduate), 6,064 at Bothell, and 4,980 at Tacoma. The Seattle campus enrolled 8,774 new undergraduates, including 7,195 freshmen and 1,579 transfer students.

Diversity: The newest freshman class is the most diverse in UW's 164-year history, with 8,470 international students (13.5%) across all campuses.

The Washington College Grant (formerly the State Need Grant) is Washington's most comprehensive state financial aid program, providing up to $11,887 per year (2024-2025) for eligible students at Washington colleges.

Who Qualifies (2025-2026 Estimates):

• Family of 4 earning ≤$78,500: College or training could be FREE
• Family income up to $131,000: Partial grant funding available

Basic Eligibility:

• Washington resident
• High school diploma or GED
• No bachelor's degree earned
• Enrolled in eligible program at Washington college

Lifetime Maximum: Up to 18 quarters (6 years) of grant funding, if eligible (effective 2024-2025)

How to Apply: Complete FAFSA or WASFA each year. Applications for 2024-25 and 2025-26 are both open now.

Washington has 34 public community and technical colleges overseen by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC).

Recent Enrollment Trends: As of Fall 2024, enrollment across Washington's community and technical colleges has increased for eight consecutive quarters, demonstrating strong recovery post-pandemic.

What They Offer:

• Associate degrees
• Certificate programs
• Workforce development training
• Transfer pathways to four-year universities
• Career & technical education

Notable Colleges: Seattle Central College, Bellevue College, Tacoma Community College, Spokane Community College, Pierce College, Shoreline Community College, and many more across the state.

Affordability: Washington community and technical colleges offer the most affordable higher education option in the state, with tuition significantly lower than four-year universities.

Washington State University and University of Washington are both major public research universities, but have distinct characteristics:

University of Washington:

• Enrollment: 62,752 students (51,719 at Seattle campus)
• Acceptance Rate: 39.5% overall (48% in-state, 36% out-of-state)
• Location: Urban - Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma
• Tuition: $12,973 in-state, $43,209 out-of-state
• Profile: More selective, research-intensive, higher out-of-state tuition

Washington State University:

• Enrollment: 25,685 students (16,449 at Pullman campus)
• Acceptance Rate: 83-86% (much more accessible)
• Location: Rural - Pullman + statewide locations
• Tuition: $13,391 in-state, $29,950 out-of-state
• Profile: Land-grant university, test-blind admissions, more affordable out-of-state

Bottom Line: UW is more selective and expensive (especially for out-of-state students), while WSU is more accessible with higher acceptance rates and lower out-of-state tuition. Both are excellent research universities serving different student populations.

Washington state offers relatively affordable in-state tuition compared to the national average. For 2024-2025:

Public Colleges Average:

• In-State Tuition: $6,620
• Out-of-State Tuition: $13,575

Major Public Universities:

• University of Washington: $12,973 in-state, $43,209 out-of-state
• Washington State University: $13,391 in-state, $29,950 out-of-state

Private Colleges Average: $31,656

Range:

• Lowest: Northwest Indian College - $4,365
• Highest: Whitman College - $64,050

Affordability Options: Washington College Grant provides up to $11,887/year, making college FREE for families earning ≤$78,500 (family of 4). Community and technical colleges offer the most affordable option with tuition well below four-year universities.

Yes, Washington State University has a test-blind admissions policy, meaning the university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions at all.

What Test-Blind Means:

• You do NOT need to submit SAT or ACT scores
• Even if you submit scores, they will not be reviewed or considered
• Admissions decisions are based on other factors: GPA, coursework, essays, activities

WSU Admissions Profile:

• Acceptance Rate: 83-86%
• Average Accepted Student GPA: ~3.5
• Application: Accepts Common Application

Enrollment (Fall 2024): WSU enrolled 25,685 total students (21,455 undergraduates), with 4,350 new first-year students, including 3,604 at the Pullman campus.

Note: Test-blind is different from test-optional. Test-optional schools may consider scores if submitted, while test-blind schools do not consider scores under any circumstances.

Yes! Washington State offers one of the most generous state financial aid programs in the nation through the Washington College Grant.

Free College Eligibility (2025-2026):

If your family of 4 earns $78,500 or less, your college or career training could be FREE

Partial Aid Eligibility:

Families earning up to $131,000 could receive some grant money for college or training

Award Amount (2024-2025): Up to $11,887 per year for tuition and educational expenses

How to Apply:

• Complete FAFSA or WASFA each year
• Be a Washington resident
• Have high school diploma or GED
• Not have earned a bachelor's degree
• Enroll in eligible program at Washington college

Where to Use It: Washington College Grant can be used at:

• All Washington public colleges and universities (UW, WSU, community colleges, etc.)
• Many Washington private colleges
• Eligible career training programs

Lifetime Maximum: Up to 18 quarters (6 years) of funding if eligible