Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Whitworth University - Adult Degree Programs, Washington State University and University of Washington-Bothell Campus are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Whitworth University - Adult Degree Programs leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,645, College Scorecard. Columbia Basin College, Green River College and The Evergreen State College award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Washington: 1,027, 687 and 381 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 52 Washington colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 14,546 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 6 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 | Whitworth University - Adult Degree Programs Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,645 | 26 | — | — | $36,988 |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,061 | 83 | 60% | — | $22,881 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,437 | 32 | 65% | — | $16,323 |
| 4 | The Evergreen State College Olympia Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,328 | 381 | 41% | — | $21,354 |
| 5 | Antioch University - Seattle Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,487 | 11 | — | — | $29,832 |
| 6 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,398 | 13 | 76% | $31,900 | $23,500 |
Top 10 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 | Spokane Community College Spokane Public · Associate degree | $34,583 | 408 | 33% | — | $16,455 |
| 2 | Highline College Des Moines Public · Associate degree | $31,291 | 406 | 35% | — | $6,678 |
| 3 | Everett Community College Everett Public · Associate degree | $30,993 | 654 | 37% | — | $8,125 |
| 4 | Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon Public · Associate degree | $30,437 | 321 | 36% | — | $8,788 |
| 5 | Olympic College Bremerton Public · Associate degree | $29,917 | 706 | 31% | — | $6,598 |
| 6 | Bellevue College Bellevue Public · Associate degree | $29,666 | 1,045 | 36% | — | $9,598 |
| 7 | South Puget Sound Community College Olympia Public · Associate degree | $29,056 | 652 | 44% | — | $11,000 |
| 8 | Spokane Falls Community College Spokane Public · Associate degree | $28,078 | 548 | 32% | — | $11,991 |
| 9 | Seattle Central College Seattle Public · Associate degree | $28,025 | 301 | 32% | — | $9,500 |
| 10 | Cascadia College Bothell Public · Associate degree | $27,352 | 278 | 32% | — | $7,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences 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 | Columbia Basin College Pasco Public | 1,027 | Not reported |
| 2 | Green River College Auburn Public | 687 | Not reported |
| 3 | The Evergreen State College Olympia Public | 381 | $26,328 |
| 4 | Centralia College Centralia Public | 307 | Not reported |
| 5 | North Seattle College Seattle Public | 260 | Not reported |
| 6 | South Seattle College Seattle Public | 227 | Not reported |
| 7 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 83 | $40,061 |
| 8 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public | 32 | $30,437 |
| 9 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
| 10 | Whitworth University - Adult Degree Programs Spokane Private not-for-profit | 26 | $44,645 |
ShowHide the other 42 Washington colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Columbia Basin College (1,027 graduates a year), Green River College (687 graduates a year) and The Evergreen State College (381 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 52 Washington colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Whitworth University - Adult Degree Programs leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,645, College Scorecard. Washington State University and University of Washington-Bothell Campus follow. By degrees awarded, Columbia Basin College is the largest, with 1,027 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Whitworth University - Adult Degree Programs tops the list at $44,645. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Washington is $88,580 (median $78,940), across about 470 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional 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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