Washington Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
The information below is a guide for aspiring teachers looking to become certified to teach in Washington. All teachers must complete an approved teacher preparation program from an accredited school in order to become eligible for employment as a teacher in the state. This guide to teaching schools in Washington provides comprehensive information to help research the various options available. In order to help you find the best option to meet your teaching career goals, this page contains lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are a first-time teacher or looking to further your already established career, this guide can serve as a great starting point for an exciting future as a teacher.
Quick Facts
- There are 56 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Washington.1
- 33 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.*1
- 23 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.*1
- 21 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.*1
- 7 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.2
- 1 school ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020.3
- 1 school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019.4
- 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019.5
- 2 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.
*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.
Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Washington
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- University of Washington (#96)
- Gonzaga University (#153)
- Western Washington University (#250)
- Whitworth University (#279)
- Seattle Pacific University (#291)
- Seattle University (#296)
- Pacific Lutheran University (#298)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020
- Gonzaga University
US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019
- University of Washington (#14 tie)
US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019
- Whitworth University (#69 tie)
- Gonzaga University (#219 tie)


Comparison of Teacher Preparation Programs
We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Washington according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.
While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states. Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies. We have also included rankings from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a research and policy group that scores teacher preparation programs at the national level using key standards chosen to measure students’ preparation for success in teaching. For further information on the NCTQ’s program rankings, please see the notes below the table.
You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution for the 2017-2018 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education records under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which provides for reporting that holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality.
Programs that are not ranked, or for which data is not available, in a given category are denoted as “-“.
State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?6 | NCTQ Undergrad Elementary Prog. % (2016)**7 | NCTQ Undergrad Secondary Prog. % (2017)**7 | Teacher Prep Prog. Enrollment8 | Teacher Prep Prog. Completers8 | Licensing Exams Pass Rate8 | Net Price***1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antioch University | No | — | — | 36 | 20 | 100% | — |
Central Washington University | No | 17% | 59% | 1,267 | 353 | 87% | $14,124 |
Centralia College | No | — | — | — | — | — | $7,617 |
City University of Seattle | No | — | — | 42 | 57 | 99% | — |
Columbia Basin College | No | — | — | — | — | — | $8,034 |
Eastern Washington University | No | — | 42% | 316 | 211 | 93% | $11,393 |
Gonzaga University | Yes | 57% | 89% | 89 | 64 | 99% | $34,085 |
Heritage University | No | — | — | 47 | 67 | 87% | $$11,742 |
Highline College | No | — | — | — | — | — | $8,704 |
Lower Columbia College | No | — | — | — | — | — | $7,057 |
Northwest University | No | — | 26% | 28 | 34 | 87% | $22,547 |
Pacific Lutheran University | Yes | — | — | 80 | 58 | 97% | $24,567 |
Pierce College | No | — | — | 38 | — | — | $5,976 |
Saint Martin’s University | Yes | 66% | — | 14 | 4 | — | $22,695 |
Seattle Pacific University | No | — | — | 87 | 66 | 95% | $31,078 |
Seattle University | No | — | — | 39 | 73 | 98% | $35,581 |
The Evergreen State College | No | — | — | 31 | 15 | 100% | $12,407 |
University of Puget Sound | No | — | — | 1 | 26 | 100% | $40,065 |
University of Washington-Bothell | No | — | — | 96 | 57 | 100% | $7,536 |
University of Washington-Seattle | No | — | — | 206 | 213 | 100% | $9,443 |
University of Washington-Tacoma | No | — | — | 57 | 47 | 100% | $8,674 |
Walla Walla University | No | 96% | — | 40 | 19 | 100% | $23,940 |
Washington State University | No | 43% | 49% | 343 | 247 | 100% | $17,885 |
Western Governors University-Washington | No | — | — | 2,094 | 390 | — | — |
Western Washington University | Yes | 86% | 61% | 517 | 302 | 100% | $16,117 |
Whitworth University | No | 49% | 49% | 428 | 118 | 100% | $29,281 |
Yakima Valley College | No | — | — | — | — | — | $7,262 |
*The NCTQ rated undergraduate elementary teaching programs in 2016 and undergraduate secondary teaching programs in 2017 by national percentile based on their overall scores on the NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. Schools that do not provide data on all key standards or that fall below the top 50% of schools nationally are not included by the NCTQ in their ratings. Visit the NCTQ website for more information on its standards and methodologies.
**Net price is per year for undergraduate tuition as calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).
Profiles of Well-Known Schools
University of Washington: The University of Washington College of Education is located in one of the most vibrant communities in the western United States. The college offers undergraduate and graduate level degree options for current and future educators. The college is geared mainly towards graduate education but does offer a bachelor of arts in Early Childhood Education and Family Studies along with a Minor in Education, Learning, and Society. The most popular degrees include The Master in Education and the Master in Teaching. Completion of the Master in Teaching program results in a valid Washington State Teaching Certification. Along with instruction, the college is actively involved in research and community partnerships to enhance teaching and learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Washington State University: Located in the wheat fields of the Palouse, Washington State University is home to the WSU College of Education. The College of Education is housed in Cleveland Hall in the heart of the campus. Students are able to choose from a wide variety of majors that lead to careers in teaching, educational administration, counseling, advising, and sports management. The faculty are dedicated to teaching and learning at all levels in addition to the research they conduct in their fields of expertise. In addition to in-class learning, the college provides enriching teaching and learning experiences outside of the classroom for students. The college has several statewide learning partners including school districts and agencies. Students can also participate in one of many extracurricular clubs such as the WSU College of Education Students of Color Coalition and Future Cougar Teachers.
Northwest University: Northwest University is home to several competitive programs in education and teaching. NU’s School of Education and Social Policy offers bachelor’s degrees in elementary teaching, secondary teaching, and learning sciences, among other areas. The NU College of Education offers a Master of Education (MEd) and a Master in Teaching (MIT). The curricula for these programs are designed to help students become leaders in the classroom. Flexible evening class schedules for NU’s MEd and MIT programs are designed with the working professional in mind. The MED program is offered online as well as on campus. All teacher preparation programs at Northwest University that are designed to lead to initial certification include an internship component. All programs also emphasize reflective teaching practice, continuous assessment, and the social contexts of education, as well as creating and maintaining collaborative environments between students, faculty, and other education stakeholders. In 2017, the NCTQ ranked Northwest University in the 26th percentile nationally (which is within the top seven in Washington State) for undergraduate secondary teacher preparation; the school received an “A” rating, the highest possible, in the areas of Secondary Methods Coursework and Secondary Content in the Sciences.
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Teacher in Washington
Question: I have a bachelor’s degree in another area, but I’m really interested in teaching. What would I have to do to obtain a teaching certificate in Washington State?
Answer: In order to be approved to work in Washington State, you must enroll in a master’s or certificate program that is approved by the state.
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Washington
Bates Technical College*
1101 S Yakima Ave
Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 680-7000
www.bates.ctc.edu
Bellevue College
3000 Landerholm Cir SE
Bellevue, WA 98007-6484
(425) 564-1000
www.bellevuecollege.edu
Bellingham Technical College*
3028 Lindbergh Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225-1599
(360) 752-7000
www.btc.ctc.edu
Big Bend Community College*
7662 Chanute St
Moses Lake, WA 98837-3299
(509) 793-2222
www.bigbend.edu
Central Washington University
400 E University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501
(509) 963-1111
www.cwu.edu


Clover Park Technical College*
4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW
Lakewood, WA 98499-4004
(253) 589-5800
www.cptc.edu
Columbia Basin College*
2600 N 20th Ave
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 547-0511
www.columbiabasin.edu
Eastern Washington University
526 5th St
Cheney, WA 99004-2496
(509) 359-6200
www.ewu.edu
Everett Community College*
2000 Tower St
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-9100
www.everettcc.edu
Evergreen State College
2700 Evergreen Parkway NW
Olympia, WA 98505
(360) 867-6000
www.evergreen.edu


Gonzaga University
E 502 Boone Ave
Spokane, WA 99258-0001
(509) 328-4220
www.gonzaga.edu
Green River Community College*
12401 SE 320th St
Auburn, WA 98092-3622
(253) 833-9111
www.greenriver.edu
Heritage University
3240 Fort Rd
Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8500
www.heritage.edu
Highline Community College*
2400 S 240th St
Des Moines, WA 98198-9800
(206) 878-3710
www.highline.edu
Lower Columbia College*
1600 Maple St
Longview, WA 98632-0310
(360) 442-2311
www.lowercolumbia.edu
Northwest University
5520 108th Ave NE
Kirkland, WA 98083-0579
(425) 822-8266
www.northwestu.ed
Pacific Lutheran University
1010 122nd St S
Tacoma, WA 98447-0003
(253) 531-6900
www.plu.edu
Pierce College*
9401 Farwest Dr SW
Lakewood, WA 98498-1999
(253) 964-6500
www.piercecollege.edu
Renton Technical College*
3000 NE Fourth St
Renton, WA 98056-4195
(425) 235-2352
www.rtc.edu
Saint Martins University
5300 Pacific Ave SE
Lacey, WA 98503-7500
(360) 491-4700
www.stmartin.edu
Seattle Pacific University
3307 3rd Ave W
Seattle, WA 98119-1997
(206) 281-2000
www.spu.edu
Seattle University
900 Broadway
Seattle, WA 98122-4340
(206) 296-6000
www.seattleu.edu
Shoreline Community College*
16101 Greenwood Ave N
Shoreline, WA 98133-5696
(206) 546-4101
www.shoreline.edu
Skagit Valley College*
2405 E College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 416-7600
www.skagit.edu
Spokane Falls Community College*
3410 W Fort Geo Wright Dr
Spokane, WA 99224-5288
(509) 533-3500
www.spokanefalls.edu
Tacoma Community College*
6501 S 19th St
Tacoma, WA 98466-6100
(253) 566-5000
www.tacomacc.edu
The Evergreen State College
2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW
Olympia, WA 98505-0001
(360) 867-6000
www.evergreen.edu
University of Puget Sound
1500 N Warner
Tacoma, WA 98416
(253) 879-3100
www.ups.edu
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
1400 NE Campus Pkwy
Seattle, WA 98195-4550
(206) 543-2100
admit.washington.edu

Walla Walla Community College*
500 Tausick Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362-9267
(509) 522-2500
www.wwcc.edu
Washington State University
French Administration Building
Pullman, WA 99164-1009
(509) 335-3564
www.wsu.edu

Western Washington University
516 High St
Bellingham, WA 98225-9008
(360) 650-3430
www.wwu.edu
Whatcom Community College*
237 W Kellogg Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226
(360) 383-3000
www.whatcom.ctc.edu
Whitworth University
300 W Hawthorne Rd
Spokane, WA 99251
(509) 777-1000
www.whitworth.edu
Yakima Valley Community College*
South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd
Yakima, WA 98907-2520
(509) 574-4600
www.yvcc.edu
An asterisk (*) denotes a two-year or certificate program in education. While a two-year degree will not qualify graduates for teacher certification, it can be a good starting point for a teaching career. To learn more about what you can do with this degree, see our guide to associate’s degrees in education.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
6. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
7. National Council on Teacher Quality Teacher Preparation Program Review: https://www.nctq.org/review/home
8. US Department of Education 2018 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx