The average graduation rate of Washington colleges is 51.81%. It means that 51.81% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.

For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year Washington colleges, the average graduation rate is 47.04%, which means 47.04% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.

In Washington 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 59.82%.

For Washington colleges, Whitman College has the highest graduation rate of 90.37% among 4-year colleges. For Washington community colleges, Summit Salon Academy has the highest graduation rate of 100.00%.

Graduation Rate By School Level and Completion Time for Washington Colleges

The following table compares graduation rates between Washington colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.

For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.

Graduation Rate Comparison between Washington Colleges
SchoolGraduation Rate
(Completers)
Transfer-out RateRetention Rate
In 100% Normal TimeIn 125% Normal TimeIn 150% Normal Time
Bellevue College4-Year College, public---22%0%
Bellingham Technical College4-Year College, public---11%0%
Big Bend Community College4-Year College, public---12%0%
Central Washington University4-Year College, public29.79%48.29%52.26%--
Centralia College4-Year College, public---13%0%
City University of Seattle4-Year College, private-----
Paul Mitchell the School-RichlandTrade School9.01%-54.95%--
Clark College4-Year College, public---14%0%
Clover Park Technical College4-Year College, public---12%0%
Columbia Basin College4-Year College, public---11%0%
Cornish College of the Arts4-Year College, private48.84%51.74%52.91%26%69%
Divers Institute of TechnologyTrade School88.04%-89.13%--
Eastern Washington University4-Year College, public28.13%44.11%49.55%--
Edmonds College4-Year College, public---21%0%
Everett Community College4-Year College, public25.99%-60.94%12%60%
The Evergreen State College4-Year College, public31.45%40.18%41.09%--
Pierce College District4-Year College, public---16%0%
Glen Dow Academy of Hair DesignTrade School1.09%-29.35%--
Gonzaga University4-Year College, private79.81%87.30%88.09%8%93%
Grays Harbor College4-Year College, public---14%0%
Green River College4-Year College, public---17%0%
Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-ShorelineTrade School19.05%-47.62%--
Heritage University4-Year College, private23.36%35.51%42.06%26%74%
Highline College4-Year College, public---21%0%
International Air and Hospitality AcademyTrade School73.49%-73.49%--
Bastyr University4-Year College, private-----
Bates Technical CollegeCommunity College33.74%-40.49%8%61%
Lake Washington Institute of Technology4-Year College, public---11%0%
Lower Columbia College4-Year College, public---11%0%
BJ's Beauty & Barber CollegeTrade School100.00%-100.00%--
North Seattle College4-Year College, public---32%0%
Northwest University4-Year College, private61.93%66.50%67.51%--
Olympic College4-Year College, public---17%0%
Perry Technical InstituteCommunity College75.07%-78.78%--
Pacific Lutheran University4-Year College, private62.63%71.20%71.79%--
Peninsula College4-Year College, public---17%0%
University of Puget Sound4-Year College, private69.58%74.78%76.11%17%79%
Renton Technical College4-Year College, public---8%0%
Saint Martin's University4-Year College, private52.97%59.75%60.17%29%70%
South Seattle College4-Year College, public---14%0%
Seattle Central College4-Year College, public---21%0%
Seattle Pacific University4-Year College, private47.01%57.23%65.40%24%79%
Seattle University4-Year College, private67.79%70.25%74.34%--
Shoreline Community CollegeCommunity College19.35%-29.39%17%54%
Skagit Valley College4-Year College, public---18%0%
South Puget Sound Community CollegeCommunity College36.28%-43.95%12%60%
Spokane Community College4-Year College, public---14%0%
Spokane Falls Community College4-Year College, public---21%0%
Stylemaster College of Hair DesignTrade School27.59%-51.72%--
Tacoma Community College4-Year College, public---19%0%
Walla Walla Community College4-Year College, public---8%0%
Walla Walla University4-Year College, private30.52%54.50%62.40%3%77%
Washington State University4-Year College, public41.11%58.64%62.01%--
University of Washington-Seattle Campus4-Year College, public71.41%82.94%84.37%--
Wenatchee Valley College4-Year College, public---12%0%
Western Washington University4-Year College, public42.36%61.32%65.34%--
Whatcom Community College4-Year College, public---14%0%
Whitman College4-Year College, private83.46%88.64%90.37%6%88%
Whitworth University4-Year College, private65.54%74.83%75.68%18%78%
Yakima Valley College4-Year College, public---14%0%
Antioch University-Seattle4-Year College, private-----
Pima Medical Institute-SeattleCommunity College8.49%-50.00%--
Northwest College of Art & Design4-Year College, private21.88%56.25%56.25%--
University of Washington-Bothell Campus4-Year College, public48.60%65.27%68.83%--
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus4-Year College, public43.17%52.01%54.22%--
Northwest Indian College4-Year College, public30.77%38.46%38.46%19%50%
KaiStarTrade School--50.51%--
Northwest HVAC/R Training CenterTrade School66.67%-66.67%--
Carrington College-SpokaneCommunity College34.40%-60.80%--
Cascadia College4-Year College, public---22%0%
Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine4-Year College, private-----
The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology4-Year College, private-----
Faith International University4-Year College, private16.67%-16.67%50%67%
DigiPen Institute of Technology4-Year College, private44.56%56.48%60.10%--
Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-EverettTrade School21.91%-72.44%--
Pima Medical Institute-RentonCommunity College13.00%-54.18%--
Victoria's Academy of CosmetologyTrade School27.27%-75.76%--
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences4-Year College, private-----
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute SeattleTrade School--50.00%--
Northwest School of Wooden Boat BuildingCommunity College85.71%-85.71%--
Summit Salon AcademyCommunity College100.00%-100.00%--
Paul Mitchell the School-SpokaneTrade School4.17%-54.17%--
Whitworth University-Adult Degree Programs4-Year College, private-----
Academy of Interactive EntertainmentCommunity College73.68%-73.68%--
Studio Beauty SchoolTrade School41.94%-93.55%--
Aveda Institute Portland-Vancouver CampusTrade School18.52%-66.67%--
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education4-Year College, private16.67%22.22%27.78%--
Fosbre Academy of Hair DesignTrade School13.16%-76.32%--
International Beauty Education CenterTrade School33.33%-79.17%--
Seattle Film Institute4-Year College, private-----
Elite Cosmetology, Barber & Spa AcademyTrade School--20.83%--
Centralia Beauty CollegeTrade School11.11%-11.11%--
Pacific Northwest Christian CollegeCommunity College33.33%-46.67%6%50%
Golden Gate University-Seattle4-Year College, private-----
Moody Bible Institute - Spokane4-Year College, private-----
Columbia College - Naval Station Everett/Marysville4-Year College, private-----
Columbia College - Whidbey Island4-Year College, private-----
Shoreline Community College - CNC Machinists Program , Georgetown SSCCommunity College-----
Shoreline Community College - Dental HygieneCommunity College-----
Washington State University-Vancouver4-Year College, public-----
Washington State University-Spokane4-Year College, public-----
Washington State University-Tri Cities4-Year College, public-----
Washington State University - Everett Campus4-Year College, public-----
Zorganics Institute of Beauty and WellnessTrade School-----
Great Northern University4-Year College, private-----
UEI College-TacomaTrade School-----