Best Washington Community Colleges (2023)

For the 2023 school year, there are 37 community colleges serving 165,842 students in Washington (34 public colleges and 3 private colleges).

For Washington community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $4,105 per year for in-state students and $7,359 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,532 per year (view national tuition costs).

The best top ranked community colleges in California include Shoreline Community College, Clover Park Technical College and Green River College.

Washington community colleges have a diversity score of 0.71, which is higher than the national average of 0.00 (view national diversity statistics).

Minority enrollment is 50% (majority Hispanic and Asian) and the student:teacher ratio is 11:1.

Pierce College District Photo - Students gather outside the Gaspard Building on the Puyallup Campus.

Highline College Photo - Looking west from the plaza outside the library and student union.

Lower Columbia College Photo - Lower Columbia College's state-of-the-art Health and Science Building

Bates Technical College Photo - Dental Assisting students learn in a real-world dental office, open to the public.

Edmonds College Photo - Edmonds Community College's Culinary Arts prepares students for positions as cooks, kitchen managers, servers and hosts. The college's newest offering is a one-year Baking certificate.

Whatcom Community College Photo - Kulshan Hall

Walla Walla Community College Photo - The Fourth of July is celebrated with fireworks over the Dietrich Dome on Walla Walla Community College's campus

Student by Ethnicity

(WA) School Average

American Indian

Asian

Hispanic

14%

Black

White

50%

Hawaiian

Two or more races

Non Resident

Unknown

WA All Ethnic Groups Ethnicity Breakdown

[+] Show Closed Community Colleges in Washington

Community Colleges in Washington (Closed)

School

Location

Students

The Art Institute of Seattle (Closed 2020)

Private, for profit

2323 Elliott Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 448-0900

| 1,378 students

ITT Technical Institute-Everett (Closed 2016)

Private, for profit

1615 75th Street Sw, Suite 220
Everett, WA 98203
(425) 583-0200

| 279 students

ITT Technical Institute-Spokane Valley (Closed 2016)

Private, for profit

13518 E Indiana Avenue
Spokane, WA 99216
(509) 926-2900

| 295 students

Recent Articles

January 02, 2023

How Community Colleges Are Changing Remedial Education

Remedial education exists to help struggling students succeed in college-level classes. Unfortunately, the existing model may be doing more harm than good. Keep reading to learn more about the history of remedial education and what community colleges are doing to change it.

January 02, 2023

Does Money Motivate College Completion? New Task Force Says Yes

We look at the recommendations for improving completion rates in a new report issued by the Complete College Ohio Task Force, which includes financial incentives.

January 02, 2023

Remedial Education Leaves Many Colleges in a Quandary

Although many students need some remedial education before beginning college coursework, statistics show dismal completion rates for those who begin in remedial classes. We take a closer look at the problem, as well as some of the ways colleges are tackling it.