Washington doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 34 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 34 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Pullman came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Washington For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Washington's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Washington State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 21,099 (65 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 32,229 |
| Median rent | $1,062 |
| Graduation rate | 68% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,648 |
Pullman is home to Washington State University. There are 65 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,062 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,648 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Washington-Bothell Campus, Cascadia College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 6,489 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 49,610 |
| Median rent | $2,346 |
| Graduation rate | 64% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $23,992 |
Bothell is home to University of Washington-Bothell Campus, Cascadia College. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,346 a month, and the average cost to attend is $23,992 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Seattle University, Seattle Central College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 47,685 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 754,195 |
| Median rent | $2,030 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $38,444 |
Seattle is home to University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Seattle University, Seattle Central College. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,030 a month, and the average cost to attend is $38,444 a year. It ranks 32nd for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Skagit Valley College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,477 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 35,377 |
| Median rent | $1,405 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $14,866 |
Mount Vernon is home to Skagit Valley College. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,405 a month, and the average cost to attend is $14,866 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Peninsula College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,263 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 20,118 |
| Median rent | $1,170 |
| Graduation rate | 54% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $18,514 |
Port Angeles is home to Peninsula College. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,170 a month, and the average cost to attend is $18,514 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Tacoma Community College, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, Pacific Lutheran University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 13,263 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 222,758 |
| Median rent | $1,676 |
| Graduation rate | 60% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,726 |
Tacoma is home to Tacoma Community College, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, Pacific Lutheran University. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,676 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,726 a year. It ranks 34th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Walla Walla Community College, Whitman College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,949 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 33,925 |
| Median rent | $1,323 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $48,680 |
Walla Walla is home to Walla Walla Community College, Whitman College. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,323 a month, and the average cost to attend is $48,680 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham Technical College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 18,284 (20 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 93,438 |
| Median rent | $1,577 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,172 |
Bellingham is home to Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham Technical College. There are 20 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,577 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,172 a year. It ranks 26th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Northwest University, Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,456 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 92,621 |
| Median rent | $2,401 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,803 |
Kirkland is home to Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Northwest University, Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,401 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,803 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Gonzaga University, Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 14,981 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 230,293 |
| Median rent | $1,215 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $39,925 |
Spokane is home to Gonzaga University, Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,215 a month, and the average cost to attend is $39,925 a year. It ranks 31st for crime among the 34 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Washington
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 34 towns in Washington that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Washington.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Washington.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Washington
If you're looking for the best college towns in Washington, Pullman is where to start.
The best college towns in Washington are Pullman, Bothell, Seattle, Mount Vernon, Port Angeles, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Bellingham, Kirkland, and Spokane.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Washington for 2026?
Pullman is the best college town in Washington for 2026, followed by Bothell and Seattle.
How did you rank the best college towns in Washington?
We looked at every town in Washington with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Washington?
Moses Lake ranks last of the 34 college towns we ranked in Washington for 2026.
Best College Towns In Washington For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pullman, WA | 32,229 | 21,099 | $1,062 |
| 2 | Bothell, WA | 49,610 | 6,489 | $2,346 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | 754,195 | 47,685 | $2,030 |
| 4 | Mount Vernon, WA | 35,377 | 2,477 | $1,405 |
| 5 | Port Angeles, WA | 20,118 | 1,263 | $1,170 |
| 6 | Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | 13,263 | $1,676 |
| 7 | Walla Walla, WA | 33,925 | 3,949 | $1,323 |
| 8 | Bellingham, WA | 93,438 | 18,284 | $1,577 |
| 9 | Kirkland, WA | 92,621 | 3,456 | $2,401 |
| 10 | Spokane, WA | 230,293 | 14,981 | $1,215 |
| 11 | Lynnwood, WA | 40,110 | 3,656 | $1,742 |
| 12 | Wenatchee, WA | 35,484 | 1,759 | $1,248 |
| 13 | Lakewood, WA | 62,937 | 7,949 | $1,525 |
| 14 | Bremerton, WA | 44,830 | 3,826 | $1,641 |
| 15 | Ellensburg, WA | 20,874 | 7,833 | $1,340 |
| 16 | College Place, WA | 9,854 | 1,252 | $1,186 |
| 17 | Bellevue, WA | 151,847 | 7,364 | $2,572 |
| 18 | Vancouver, WA | 195,300 | 4,945 | $1,702 |
| 19 | Lacey, WA | 57,737 | 1,158 | $1,870 |
| 20 | Des Moines, WA | 32,823 | 3,838 | $1,799 |
| 21 | Renton, WA | 105,317 | 1,783 | $1,998 |
| 22 | Pasco, WA | 79,575 | 4,640 | $1,227 |
| 23 | Everett, WA | 111,845 | 4,709 | $1,740 |
| 24 | Yakima, WA | 96,961 | 2,770 | $1,117 |
| 25 | Longview, WA | 38,069 | 1,932 | $1,137 |
| 26 | Centralia, WA | 18,830 | 1,552 | $1,084 |
| 27 | Cheney, WA | 12,804 | 6,222 | $1,156 |
| 28 | Auburn, WA | 85,676 | 4,965 | $1,786 |
| 29 | Kenmore, WA | 23,741 | 39 | $1,949 |
| 30 | Aberdeen, WA | 17,088 | 1,010 | $1,049 |
| 31 | Toppenish, WA | 8,723 | 812 | $985 |
| 32 | Olympia, WA | 55,951 | 2,160 | $1,599 |
| 33 | Redmond, WA | 77,353 | 995 | $2,409 |
| 34 | Moses Lake, WA | 26,083 | 1,272 | $1,216 |
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