Best colleges for Psychology in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University and Central Washington University are the top bachelor's Psychology programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Seattle Pacific University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,264, College Scorecard. Washington State University, Western Washington University and Central Washington University award the most Psychology degrees in Washington: 458, 224 and 223 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Washington colleges offer Psychology and award 1,731 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
Top 10 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 | $40,264 | 60 | 62% | $24,653 | $26,000 |
| 2 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,452 | 106 | 76% | $31,900 | $19,500 |
| 3 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,964 | 223 | 54% | — | $19,500 |
| 4 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,216 | 458 | 60% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,660 | 161 | 63% | — | $17,426 |
| 6 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,594 | 107 | 43% | — | $19,628 |
| 7 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,554 | 106 | 86% | $30,006 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Saint Martin's University Lacey Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,509 | 22 | 52% | $22,131 | $24,125 |
| 9 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,306 | 224 | 65% | — | $19,449 |
| 10 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,757 | 32 | 69% | $19,944 | $22,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Psychology 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 458 | $36,216 |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 224 | $32,306 |
| 3 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 223 | $36,964 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public | 161 | $34,660 |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 107 | $34,594 |
| 6 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 106 | $33,554 |
| 7 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 106 | $37,452 |
| 8 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell Public | 81 | Not reported |
| 9 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 60 | $40,264 |
| 10 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 36 | $29,005 |
ShowHide the other 8 Washington colleges offering Psychology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Heritage University | Toppenish | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Northwest University - Center for Online and Extended Education | Kirkland | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Antioch University - Seattle | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Walla Walla University | College Place | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Northwest University | Kirkland | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).
Top skills
What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Psychology programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Psychology degrees?+
Washington State University (458 graduates a year), Western Washington University (224 graduates a year) and Central Washington University (223 graduates a year) award the most Psychology degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Washington colleges offer Psychology.
What is the best college for Psychology in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Seattle Pacific University leads among bachelor's Psychology programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,264, College Scorecard. Seattle University and Central Washington University follow. By degrees awarded, Washington State University is the largest, with 458 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Psychology 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 $40,264. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Washington is $137,530 (median $115,240), across about 1,270 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Psychology program?+
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?+
The national job outlook is about +11.2% growth with around 4,800 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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