Washington Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
This page is a guide for aspiring teachers in Washington. All teachers in Washington must complete a state-approved teacher preparation program from an accredited institution to become eligible for certification. Continue reading to explore a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs and curated lists of the most affordable and top-ranked teaching programs in the state.
Table of Contents
- WA Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 14 Affordable WA Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked Washington Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- US News Best Graduate Education Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of Washington Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 29 Washington teacher preparation programs across key factors. All listed institutions are not-for-profit and approved by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a respected credential accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our Washington traditional certification guide and our Washington alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates–tuition, books, room and board–minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment 2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch University | No | 17 | 7 | N.Av. | 19 | 11 | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Central Washington University | No | 1129 | 354 | 88% | 111 | 49 | 90% | $16,441 |
| Centralia College | No | 48 | 16 | 65% | — | — | — | $8,620 |
| City University of Seattle | No | 161 | 48 | 55% | 342 | 27 | 64% | N.Av. |
| Columbia Basin College | No | 20 | 18 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $10,356 |
| Eastern Washington University | No | 511 | 193 | 87% | 45 | 29 | 70% | $12,322 |
| Gonzaga University | No | 89 | 57 | 95% | — | — | — | $36,880 |
| Grays Harbor College | No | 19 | 9 | 83% | 13 | 9 | $6,954 | |
| Heritage University | No | 77 | 42 | 47% | 15 | 15 | 47% | $7,356 |
| Highline College | No | 52 | 9 | 44% | — | — | — | $8,114 |
| Lower Columbia College | No | 72 | 19 | 91% | — | — | — | $7,357 |
| Northwest University | No | 42 | 40 | 90% | 7 | 7 | $21,825 | |
| Pacific Lutheran University | No | 133 | 56 | 97% | 54 | 26 | 91% | $25,368 |
| Pierce College | No | 32 | 14 | 52% | 26 | 11 | — | $8,147 |
| Saint Martin’s University | No | 69 | 24 | 84% | 17 | 7 | — | $23,824 |
| Seattle Pacific University | No | 74 | 37 | N.Av. | 113 | 53 | 91% | $28,367 |
| Seattle University | No | 57 | 46 | 100% | — | — | — | $36,843 |
| The Evergreen State College | No | 34 | 33 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $14,723 |
| University of Puget Sound | No | 28 | 24 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $38,127 |
| University of Washington-Bothell | No | 106 | 61 | 64% | — | — | — | $8,841 |
| University of Washington-Seattle | No | 330 | 189 | 87% | 51 | 23 | N.Av. | $9,661 |
| University of Washington-Tacoma | No | 21 | 21 | 97% | — | — | — | $10,113 |
| Walla Walla University | No | 72 | 14 | 100% | — | — | — | $23,598 |
| Washington State University | No | 765 | 284 | N.Av. | 19 | 13 | N.Av. | $17,931 |
| Wenatchee Valley College | No | 12 | 7 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $8,114 |
| Western Governors University-Washington | No | 901 | 235 | 98% | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Western Washington University | No | 850 | 270 | 84% | 31 | — | — | $18,398 |
| Whitworth University | No | 249 | 113 | 98% | — | — | — | $25,785 |
| Yakima Valley College | No | 58 | 37 | 33% | — | — | — | $7,265 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Washington
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 14 most affordable schools have a net price under $15,000.
- Grays Harbor College ($6,954)
- Yakima Valley College ($7,265)
- Heritage University ($7,356)
- Lower Columbia College ($7,357)
- Highline College ($8,114)
- Wenatchee Valley College ($8,114)
- Pierce College ($8,147)
- Centralia College ($8,620)
- University of Washington-Bothell ($8,841)
- University of Washington-Seattle ($9,661)
- University of Washington-Tacoma ($10,113)
- Columbia Basin College ($10,356)
- Eastern Washington University ($12,322)
- The Evergreen State College ($14,723)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in Washington
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Washington
Our list of the top nine bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- Seattle University (100%)
- Walla Walla University (100%)
- Western Governors University-Washington (98%)
- Whitworth University (98%)
- Pacific Lutheran University (97%)
- University of Washington-Tacoma (97%)
- Gonzaga University (95%)
- Lower Columbia College (91%)
- Northwest University (90%)2
US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2025
- University of Washington (#22 tie)
- City University of Seattle (#234-258)4
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The 33 Washington schools below offer associate degrees in education.1 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Bates Technical College*
- Bellevue College
- Bellingham Technical College
- Big Bend Community College
- Centralia College*
- Clark College
- Clover Park Technical College
- Columbia Basin College
- Edmonds College
- Everett Community College
- Grays Harbor College*
- Green River College*
- Heritage University*
- Highline College*
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology*
- Lower Columbia College*
- North Seattle College*
- Northwest Indian College
- Olympic College*
- Pierce College District*
- Renton Technical College
- Seattle Central College
- Shoreline Community College
- Skagit Valley College
- South Puget Sound Community College
- South Seattle College*
- Spokane Community College
- Spokane Falls Community College
- Tacoma Community College
- Walla Walla Community College
- Wenatchee Valley College*
- Whatcom Community College
- Yakima Valley College*
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2025: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings