Best colleges for Business/Commerce in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Seattle Pacific University, Gonzaga University and Walla Walla University are the top bachelor's Business/Commerce programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Seattle Pacific University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,283, College Scorecard. Gonzaga University, Green River College and Bellevue College award the most Business/Commerce degrees in Washington: 296, 148 and 121 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Washington colleges offer Business/Commerce and award 1,758 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Business/Commerce program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of business management, marketing, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,283 | 61 | 62% | $24,653 | $22,000 |
| 2 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,540 | 296 | 86% | $30,006 | $23,250 |
| 3 | Walla Walla University College Place Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,155 | 20 | 60% | $22,260 | $27,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma Public · Associate degree | $40,863 | 64 | 32% | — | $11,500 |
| 2 | Clark College Vancouver Public · Associate degree | $40,313 | 97 | 39% | — | $10,441 |
Colleges awarding the most Business/Commerce degrees in Washington
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 296 | $54,540 |
| 2 | Green River College Auburn Public | 148 | Not reported |
| 3 | Bellevue College Bellevue Public | 121 | Not reported |
| 4 | Everett Community College Everett Public | 98 | Not reported |
| 5 | Pierce College District Lakewood Public | 84 | Not reported |
| 6 | Seattle Central College Seattle Public | 65 | Not reported |
| 7 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 61 | $56,283 |
| 8 | South Puget Sound Community College Olympia Public | 55 | Not reported |
| 9 | Highline College Des Moines Public | 52 | Not reported |
| 10 | Olympic College Bremerton Public | 52 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 26 Washington colleges offering Business/Commerce
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Business/Commerce programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Business/Commerce degrees?+
Gonzaga University (296 graduates a year), Green River College (148 graduates a year) and Bellevue College (121 graduates a year) award the most Business/Commerce degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Washington colleges offer Business/Commerce.
What is the best college for Business/Commerce in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Seattle Pacific University leads among bachelor's Business/Commerce programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,283, College Scorecard. Gonzaga University and Walla Walla University follow. By degrees awarded, Gonzaga University is the largest, with 296 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Business/Commerce program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Seattle Pacific University tops the list at $56,283. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Washington is $158,920 (median $133,750), across about 50,630 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Business/Commerce program?+
The Business/Commerce program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of business management, marketing, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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