2026 Best Teaching Schools in Washington
Looking for the best Teaching degree programs in Washington? We have ranked 97 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Teaching Degree Search evaluated 82 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Teaching Degree Schools in Washington
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Pacific Lutheran University this year in Washington. Based in Tacoma, WA, Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Pacific Lutheran University graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $50,916. The median Teaching program debt is $23,667. Read more about Pacific Lutheran University
Out of the 82 schools in Washington in this year's ranking, Washington State University landed the #2 spot. Located in Pullman, WA, Washington State University is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $21,903. Read more about Washington State University
The strong Teaching programs at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned it the #3 place in Washington. This public school is set in Tacoma, WA. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,168, with out-of-state students paying around $43,404. Typical Teaching student debt is $16,151. More on University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #4 on this year's Teaching ranking in Washington. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public school based in Bothell, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,919, with out-of-state students paying around $43,155. Typical Teaching student debt is $15,636. Read the full report on University Of Washington Bothell Campus
A rank of #5 makes Western Washington University one of the top choices in Washington. Western Washington University is a public school based in Bellingham, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Western Washington University Teaching students take on a median of $20,361 in debt. Get the full Western Washington University report
Seattle Pacific University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school based in Seattle, WA. Seattle Pacific University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,407. Graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans. See the full Seattle Pacific University profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Seattle, WA, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete their Teaching program here. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Seattle University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school based in Seattle, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $56,721 in tuition and fees. Seattle University Teaching students take on a median of $22,289 in debt. See the full Seattle University profile
University Of Puget Sound placed #9 among Teaching schools in Washington. Based in Tacoma, WA, University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,898. University Of Puget Sound Teaching students take on a median of $25,287 in debt. Get the full University Of Puget Sound report
Central Washington University placed #10 among Teaching schools in Washington. Located in Ellensburg, WA, Central Washington University is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,417, with out-of-state students paying around $27,526. The median Teaching program debt is $21,988. More on Central Washington University
Gonzaga University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Based in Spokane, WA, Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit institution. Gonzaga University graduates 86% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $55,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,188 to complete their Teaching program here. Get the full Gonzaga University report
Saint Martins University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lacey, WA. About 52% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,510. The median Teaching program debt is $22,818. Get the full Saint Martins University report
Whitworth University placed #13 among Teaching schools in Washington. Based in Spokane, WA, Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $52,880. Whitworth University Teaching students take on a median of $26,051 in debt. See the full Whitworth University profile
Spokane Falls Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Spokane, WA, Spokane Falls Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,461, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Spokane Falls Community College Teaching students take on a median of $17,031 in debt. More on Spokane Falls Community College
Heritage University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Based in Toppenish, WA, Heritage University is a private not-for-profit institution. Heritage University posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. Students from in state pay about $20,928 in tuition and fees. Typical Teaching student debt is $19,148. Read more about Heritage University
Northwest University landed the #16 spot in Washington this year. Based in Kirkland, WA, Northwest University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,035. Students borrow a median of $22,439 to complete their Teaching program here. See the full Northwest University profile
City University Of Seattle landed the #17 spot in Washington this year. Located in Seattle, WA, City University Of Seattle is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,929. The median Teaching program debt is $18,000. See the full City University Of Seattle profile
Eastern Washington University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. This public school is set in Cheney, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,586, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Eastern Washington University Teaching students take on a median of $21,754 in debt. Read the full report on Eastern Washington University
Clark College landed the #19 spot in Washington this year. Based in Vancouver, WA, Clark College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,183. The median Teaching program debt is $15,432. Get the full Clark College report
Antioch University Seattle placed #20 among Teaching schools in Washington. Set in Seattle, WA, Antioch University Seattle is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,260. The median Teaching program debt is $29,832. More on Antioch University Seattle
Centralia College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Read more about Centralia College
Whatcom Community College placed #22 among Teaching schools in Washington. More on Whatcom Community College
Whitworth University Adult Degree Programs did well this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Whitworth University Adult Degree Programs report
Pima Medical Institute Renton ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. More on Pima Medical Institute Renton
Perry Technical Institute landed the #25 spot in Washington this year. Read more about Perry Technical Institute
Rest of the Top 50 Best Teaching Degree Schools in Washington
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Wenatchee Valley College placed #26 among Teaching schools in Washington. More on Wenatchee Valley College
Seattle Institute Of Oriental Medicine ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Read more about Seattle Institute Of Oriental Medicine
Green River Community College landed the #28 spot in Washington this year. Read the full report on Green River Community College
Shoreline Community College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read more about Shoreline Community College
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline placed #30 among Teaching schools in Washington. See the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline profile
Gary Manuel Aveda Institute ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Get the full Gary Manuel Aveda Institute report
Washington State University Global Campus placed #32 among Teaching schools in Washington. Read more about Washington State University Global Campus
Studio Beauty School did well this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Studio Beauty School profile
Centralia Beauty College landed the #34 spot in Washington this year. Get the full Centralia Beauty College report
Digipen Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Digipen Institute Of Technology profile
Evergreen Beauty And Barber College Everett did well this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Evergreen Beauty And Barber College Everett profile
Walla Walla University came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Get the full Walla Walla University report
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. More on Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary placed #39 among Teaching schools in Washington. Get the full Faith Evangelical College And Seminary report
South Puget Sound Community College landed the #40 spot in Washington this year. Read more about South Puget Sound Community College
Highline Community College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. See the full Highline Community College profile
Northwest Hvac R Training Center came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Northwest Hvac R Training Center
Olympic College
Olympic College landed the #43 spot in Washington this year. Get the full Olympic College report
Seattle Community College Central Campus placed #44 among Teaching schools in Washington. See the full Seattle Community College Central Campus profile
Peninsula College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. More on Peninsula College
Columbia Basin College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Read the full report on Columbia Basin College
Spokane Community College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Get the full Spokane Community College report
Bastyr University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. More on Bastyr University
Lower Columbia College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Teaching schools. Get the full Lower Columbia College report
Seattle Film Institute did well this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Seattle Film Institute report
More Teaching Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 82 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 97 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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