2024 Best Undergraduate Business Schools in Washington

Published: November 1, 2023

By: Colleges of Distinction Staff

Jump to: Central Washington University | Eastern Washington University | Gonzaga University | Seattle University | University of Puget Sound | University of Washington | Frequently Asked Questions

Every school on this list has already gotten our stamp of approval for the way they enrich every students’ education through the Four Distinctions. And with the addition of the business badge, you can be sure that these institutions offer hands-on business programs that produce experienced, responsible leaders for the booming corporate world.

We have thoroughly researched the business programs at these Washington Colleges of Distinction and verified that they exhibit all of the following characteristics:

• Multidisciplinary exposure across all aspects of business
• Real-world experience through internships and other forms of engagement with actual firms
• Industry connections that help students build their network and access to professional growth
• Business ethics that emphasize how a firm’s obligations extend beyond its shareholders
• Collaborative learning, in both business and general education courses, that stress the nuances of an efficient team
• Dedicated advisors and counselors who have a clear understanding of students’ academic and post-graduate milestones

Student success is the primary focus of our Colleges of Distinction, and these business degree-granting CoDs are no exception. With different types of business degrees to help students pursue their desired industry, the 2022-2023 Washington Business Colleges of Distinction provide a stable foundation for entrepreneurial minds.

Central Washington University

Garden City, WA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Central Washington University is a public, four-year university in Ellensburg, Washington. Its commitment to hands-on learning and discovery and individual attention takes students beyond the limits of the classroom and books. Students get to do what they’re studying in real-world, professional settings, which makes learning exciting and relevant.

Each year, CWU graduates thousands of well-educated citizens who are ready for high-demand careers in the workforce: construction management, accounting, engineering technology, teacher education, wine business, paramedicine, aviation, and more.

Acceptance rate 86%       •       Net price $16,441       •       SAT Range 930-1150       •       Students submitting SAT scores 69%
Total Undergrad Population 11,174       •       Setting Town       •       Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 58%       •       Retention rate 70%       •       Student-to-faculty ratio 20:1

Click here for available majors

Eastern Washington University

Garden City, WA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Eastern Washington University (EWU) is located in Cheney, Washington, a short drive to downtown Spokane, the state’s second-largest city. The geographic area provides shopping, concerts, cultural events and an abundance of outdoor activities throughout the year. EWU is a diverse, friendly, and student-centric university where students know each other and their faculty thanks to a low student-to-faculty ratio. 

CAREER PREPARATION
Most students participate in internships, volunteer positions, and/or part-time jobs that provide a head start on their career—more than 70% of students have professional experience before graduation. EWU gives students the opportunity to make business connections with its Young Professionals Network, where recent and future graduates network with business leaders in the community. The Career Services staff provides mentoring, résumé workshops, and career development—even after students graduate.

Acceptance rate 79%       •       Net price $12,322       •       SAT Range 880-1090       •       Students submitting SAT scores 76%
Total Undergrad Population 12,349       •       Setting Town       •       Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 51%       •       Retention rate 71%       •       Student-to-faculty ratio 21:1

Click here for available majors

Gonzaga University

Garden City, WA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

At Gonzaga University students discover a stunning array of opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, experience, and character that lead to a fulfilling life of purpose and principle. Students have the opportunity to actively take on the world of ideas through hands-on learning opportunities like internships, projects, and study abroad programs.

HOGAN ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Students in any major who are interested in business can take advantage of Gonzaga’s innovative Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. The program, which includes intensive seminars, lectures, site visits, internships, projects, and mentoring, immerses students in the challenges of starting a new venture in the public or private sector. The program has a strong emphasis on service and ethics. Students in the program receive a $500 per year scholarship as well as other benefits such as the opportunity to participate in a special summer program and potentially receive funding for a business plan. Participants graduate with an Entrepreneurial Leadership Concentration along with their regular major.

Acceptance rate 73%       •       Net price $36,880       •       SAT Range 1160-1350       •       Students submitting SAT scores 71%
Total Undergrad Population 7,295       •       Setting City: Midsize       •       Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 88%       •       Retention rate 92%       •       Student-to-faculty ratio 11:1

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Seattle University

Garden City, WA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Seattle University is consistently recognized among the top universities in the West with a full range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Founded in 1891, this is Seattle’s university. Seattle U has more than 7,400 students on its 55-acre, carbon-neutral campus, which is set in the heart of a city of commerce, community, global engagement, and forward-thinking industries. The university has long-standing partnerships with many of the world’s most innovative businesses, medical centers, and nonprofits such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Boeing, Microsoft, Costco, Amazon, Starbucks, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and PATH. 

OFFICE OF FELLOWSHIPS
Seattle University has an impressively strong record of supporting SU students and alumni in their applications to nationally competitive scholarship and fellowship programs. The Office of Fellowships strives to support students in their search for prestigious awards and opportunities to enrich their education at both the undergraduate and graduate level. SU is among the most elite schools in the country for the number of Truman and Fulbright Scholars it produces. 

Acceptance rate 83%       •       Net price $36,843       •       SAT Range 1130-1330       •       Students submitting SAT scores 75%
Total Undergrad Population 7,050       •       Setting City: Large       •       Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 73%       •       Retention rate 82%       •       Student-to-faculty ratio 10:1

Click here for available majors

University of Puget Sound

Garden City, WA ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Situated in the beautiful woodlands of Tacoma, Washington, University of Puget Sound is a welcoming, academically rigorous institution where students build lives of purpose and impact.

Puget Sound is a leading national liberal arts and sciences university that exposes students to multiple perspectives, engages them in work that makes a difference in the world, and helps them discover who they are and what they have to offer. Its action-oriented liberal arts education is designed to help students make connections between disciplines, discover new knowledge, and apply it in the real world.

ACADEMICS
Explore where your curiosity takes you, try new experiences, and apply what you learn to solve challenges that are important to you.

Over the course of a four-year program of study, you will complete a core curriculum that requires learning across the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Every student engages off campus in at least one internship, study abroad, independent research, or community-based learning experience. Altogether, students learn about issues of power, disparity, and diversity of experiences and identities through a Knowledge, Identity, and Power graduation requirement.

Acceptance rate 87%       •       Net price $38,127
Total Undergrad Population 2,130       •       Setting City: Midsize       •       Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 77%       •       Retention rate 76%       •       Student-to-faculty ratio 9:1

Click here for available majors

What it’s like to attend business schools in Washington and other FAQ: