Graduate and Undergraduate Business Schools in Washington

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Washington is a hot state. It routinely appears on the top ten lists of the best states to live in within the US. Its burgeoning technology industry—headlined by household names Microsoft and Amazon—has garnered it a great deal of attention worldwide over the last couple of decades. It is also a state with incredible natural beauty, including many famous landmarks and parks. Its climate is famously wet, owing to its coastal location and inland mountain ranges that wring water from Pacific storms. However, many people don’t realize that the interior beyond those mountains is actually among the continent’s driest regions. Its estimated population of approximately 7.5 million is mostly concentrated in the urban and suburban centers around Seattle and Tacoma.

Given its importance to many vital businesses and its relatively rapid growth—the state’s population has roughly doubled over the last 40 years—one might expect that there would be a lot of business schools in the Evergreen State. However, for whatever reason, this is not the case. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) statistics, there are only 38 public and non-profit schools that grant undergraduate and graduate business degrees in Washington; of these, 14 are accredited at the undergraduate level and 13 at the graduate level, which are relatively low figures on an absolute and a percentage basis.¹ As with all states, we strongly recommend choosing an accredited business degree, as this assures that the program you select has clear objectives and that the school has proven that it produces quality outcomes and adheres to national and international standards. Accredited schools also typically offer a richer educational experience via interaction with actual businesses.

All of the schools in this article have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). They are all public or non-profit and regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

This article contains essential data to help you choose the Washington business school that best suits your unique needs based on various key factors: tuition, financial aid, entrance exam scores, acceptance rates, and more. The three sections that follow describe undergraduate programs, graduate schools, and the job prospects for business school graduates in Washington.

Best Business Schools in Washington State

Best business schools in Washington according to US News data.

University of Washington – #22 in Best Business Schools, #23 in Best Executive MBA, #13 in Part-time MBA, #59 in Top National Universities, #31 in Best Colleges for Veterans, #101 in Best Value Schools, #37 in Most Innovative Schools, #21 in Undergraduate Business School Programs, #24 in Top Management Progams
Gonzaga University – #13 in Best Graduate Accounting Programs, #82 in Top Part-time MBA Programs, #4 in Best Regional Universities West, #3 in Best Colleges for Veterans, #6 in Best Value Schools, #7 in Most Innovative Schools, #108 in Best Undergraduate Business School Programs
Washington State University – #87 in Best Undergraduate Business School Programs, #70 in Top Public Schools, #95 in Best Colleges for Veterans, #12 in Best Online MBA Programs, #23 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs

14 Undergraduate Business Schools in Washington

Due to most of its population being located in a few major population centers, most of its schools result in relatively high average tuition costs relative to some other states. The average overall tuition for the 14 schools granting undergraduate degrees is shy of $23,000, while the average maximum financial aid offered is around $14,000. There aren’t any costly (> $50,000) schools, but Seattle University, Gonzaga University, Pacific Lutheran University, and Seattle Pacific University are approximately the $40,000 range. There are only three schools on our list below $10,000, which is much fewer than the number in more budget-friendly states: Western Washington University ($7,900), Central Washington University ($7,700), and Eastern Washington University ($7,000).

We were able to obtain acceptance rate data for all of our schools except the City University of Seattle. Washington undergraduate business schools have very high acceptance rates, with the overall average at an impressive 78%. Only one school (the University of Washington) is below 50% at 45%, while seven of the 13 schools are above 80%, and three are at 93% or higher.

Graduation rates for undergraduate business degrees in Washington are mostly moderate, with 11 of the 14 schools ranging from 47% to 75%. The University of Washington and Gonzaga University are tied for the highest graduation rate at 84%, while the lowest, just 24%, is at the City University of Seattle. Seattle Pacific University has the best combination of acceptance rate (87%) and graduation rate (71%), making it a fantastic low-risk option for “getting in and getting out.” Western Washington University is just behind at 83% and 70%, respectively.

Popular undergraduate degrees in Washington State: Bachelor’s in Accounting | Bachelor’s in Forensic Accounting | Bachelor of Science in Managerial Accountancy

The table below shows you all the vital data you need about undergraduate business schools in Washington, including annual in-state tuition costs, average aid per student, acceptance rates, SAT and ACT score ranges of accepted students, and graduation rates. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.

School	City	Tuition	Aid	Median SAT	Median ACT	Accept. Rate	Grad. Rate
Central Washington University	Ellensburg	$7,719	$7,383	960-1150	18-24	80%	53%
City University of Seattle	Seattle	$16,748	$1,473				24%
Eastern Washington University	Spokane	$6,951	$8,416	850-1080	17-23	95%	47%
Gonzaga University	Spokane	$39,730	$17,294	1110-1300	25-30	67%	84%
Northwest University	Kirkland	$29,200	$19,389	942-1174	20-26	93%	53%
Pacific Lutheran University	Tacoma	$39,450	$22,774	980-1230	22-28	77%	71%
Saint Martin’s University	Lacey	$34,356	$21,721	895-1150	20-25	95%	55%
Seattle Pacific University	Seattle	$38,940	$20,928	990-1230	21-27	87%	71%
Seattle University	Seattle	$41,265	$20,876	1070-1290	25-30	74%	75%
University of Washington	Seattle	$10,753	$13,655	1120-1370	26-32	45%	84%
University of Washington Bothell	Bothell	$10,690	$12,876	910-1170	20-25	80%	67%
Walla Walla University	College Place	$26,982	$11,566	920-1210	20-27	62%	54%
Washington State University	Pullman	$11,041	$9,906	930-1165	20-26	72%	67%
Western Washington University	Bellingham	$7,903	$7,956	990-1220	23-28	83%	70%

15 Graduate Business Schools in Washington

We have collected data on 13 accredited schools for graduate business study in Washington. Tuition for MBAs in Washington tends to be on the moderate side; higher than the cost of undergraduate study, as is usually the case, but most reasonable and with no costly schools in the mix. The overall average tuition is just over $37,000, and seven of the 13 cost around $35,000 or less. The two most expensive schools are the University of Washington Tacoma at $66,700 and the University of Washington at $60,700.

We have average admission GMAT scores for eight of our 13 schools, which fall in a tight band: 517 to 590. Nine schools provided data on the percentage of full-time faculty with doctorate degrees, all of which are over 80%, and four of which are over 90%.

To keep advancing your career while enhancing your education level, consider one of the online MBA programs in Washington state. The most prestigious of these is offered by Washington State University, which is currently ranked 12th best online MBA offering by US News & World Report. Underscoring this program’s high ranking is the requirement for a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA and a GMAT score of at least 550, plus three letters of recommendation. These are stringent criteria given what is typical for online education. Other schools in Washington offering online MBAs include the City University of Seattle and Northwest University. Most accredited online programs offer the same basic curriculum and courses as their offline equivalents.

Popular graduate programs in Washington State: Online MBA Programs in Healthcare Management | Online MBA Programs in Marketing | Online MBA Programs in Finance

The table below shows graduate business school tuition costs, average accepted applicant GMAT scores, the percentage of faculty with a doctorate, and student-to-faculty ratios. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.

School	City	Tuition	Avg. GMAT	Faculty with Doct. Degree	Student/ Faculty
City University of Seattle	Seattle	$17,450
Eastern Washington University	Spokane	$21,600		81%	0.76
Gonzaga University	Spokane	$31,515	527	89%
Northwest University	Kirkland	$35,320
Pacific Lutheran University	Tacoma	$52,200	526	80%	4.76
Saint Martin’s University	Lacey	$44,640
Seattle Pacific University	Seattle	$40,050		100%	1.85
Seattle University	Seattle	$44,420	547	91%	8.02
University of Washington	Seattle	$60,678	566	94%	2.4
University of Washington Tacoma	Tacoma	$66,678	517
University of Washington Bothell	Bothell	$23,592	537	88%	0.86
Washington State University	Pullman	$22,349	565	82%	6.53
Western Washington University	Bellingham	$23,098	590	98%	0.49

Job Outlook for Business School Graduates in Washington

Between 2016 and 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data predicts total growth of at least 5% in 32 of 37 business and management occupations across the US.⁵ The highest growth will be for market analysts and marketing specialists, at 22.8% over ten years, with financial managers coming in second at 18.7%.⁵

Washington’s economy has tracked the national economy very closely over the last decade, with its unemployment rate being within a few tenths of a national average point for most of that time.⁷ It has recently diverged slightly, sitting at 4.8% as of April 2018 compared to the national figure of 3.8%.⁷ About 290,000 people were employed in Washington’s business and management sector in 2016.⁶ The largest subgroup was general and operations managers at 46,740, with business operations specialists well back in second place (34,370), followed by accountants and auditors at 30,460.⁶ Five categories employed between 10,000 and 20,000 people, while the rest were all below 10,000.⁶

According to BLS data, the overall average annual wage in 2016 across all occupations in Washington was $67,106, which has the state falling just outside the top ten at 11th out of 51 (including the District of Columbia).⁶ Business and management occupations had a weighted average annual salary of around $101,400 in the same year.⁶ This is higher than the figure for many states, but only about 51% more than the overall state average, likely due to a high concentration of professionals among the general population in Washington and the state’s relatively high minimum wage.⁵ Chief executives had the highest average salary ($194,240), while most management positions were roughly in the $100,000 to $150,000 range.⁶ Tax preparers were the lowest-paid group at $38,070.⁶

Occupation Title	BLS.gov Code	2016 Total Employment Washington	Mean Hourly Wage Washington	Mean Annual Wage Washington	National Growth 2016-26
Accountants and Auditors	13-2011	30,460	$36.54	$76,010	10.0%
Administrative Services Managers	11-3011	5,060	$54.91	$114,210	10.1%
Advertising and Promotions Managers	11-2011	580	$65.9	$137,080	5.8%
Agents and Managers of Artists and Athletes	13-1011	80	$35.34	$73,510	4.9%
Architectural and Engineering Managers	11-9041	4,350	$74.11	$154,140	5.5%
Budget Analysts	13-2031	1,190	$35.73	$74,310	6.5%
Business Operations Specialists	13-1199	34,370	$37.13	$77,240	8.8%
Chief Executives	11-1011	5,390	$93.38	$194,240	8.0%
Compensation and Benefits Managers	11-3111	340	$63.4	$131,860	5.0%
Compensation and Job Analysis Specialists	13-1141	1,710	$35.8	$74,460	8.5%
Compliance Officers	13-1041	8,690	$40.77	$84,800	8.2%
Information Systems Managers	11-3021	12,590	$74.42	$154,790	11.9%
Construction Managers	11-9021	8,220	$46.91	$97,570	11.4%
Cost Estimators	13-1051	5,580	$37.21	$77,390	10.6%
Credit Analysts	13-2041	1,060	$38.82	$80,750	8.4%
Credit Counselors	13-2071	410	$24.19	$50,300	13.9%
Financial Analysts	13-2051	6,330	$41.28	$85,860	10.8%
Financial Examiners	13-2061	480	$46.65	$97,030	9.8%
Financial Managers	11-3031	12,920	$63.99	$133,100	0.187%
General and Operations Managers	11-1021	46,740	$60.1	$125,000	9.1%
Human Resources Managers	11-3121	3,440	$60.81	$126,480	8.9%
Human Resources Specialists	13-1071	15,980	$33.31	$69,280	7.1%
Insurance Underwriters	13-2053	1,950	$37.95	$78,930	-5.2%
Labor Relations Specialists	13-1075	2,220	$36.58	$76,080	-7.8%
Loan Officers	13-2072	6,960	$36.66	$76,260	11.5%
Logisticians	13-1081	6,030	$42.85	$89,120	6.9%
Management Analysts	13-1111	19,650	$50.2	$104,420	12.0%
Market Research and Marketing Specialists	13-1161	17,730	$39.51	$82,190	22.8%
Marketing Managers	11-2021	5,610	$73.16	$152,180	10.0%
Meeting and Event Planners	13-1121	3,060	$21.75	$45,240	10.2%
Public Relations	11-2031	2,100	$56.05	$116,590	10.4%
Purchasing Managers	11-3061	1,930	$62.8	$130,610	5.6%
Sales Managers	11-2022	7,760	$64.49	$134,140	7.4%
Tax Examiners and Revenue Agents	13-2081	1,070	$30.76	$63,990	-0.6%
Tax Preparers	13-2082	1,080	$18.3	$38,070	10.8%
Training and Development Managers	11-3131	680	$62.35	$129,690	10.3%
Training and Development Specialists	13-1151	6,450	$35.46	$73,750	11.5%

Other Popular State Pages

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/
2. AACSB, Best Business Schools: https://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/aacsb-accredited
3. ACBSP, Business Schools: https://acbsp.org/page/accreditation-overview
4. IACBE, Business Schools: https://iacbe.org/accreditation/
5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook, Business and Financial Occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment and Wage Estimates Washington State: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_wa.htm
7. Washington State Board of Education: https://www.sbe.wa.gov/
8. US News & World Report, Best Business Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools