2027 at a glanceWashington Degree Completion Programs at a Glance
- The #1 school for degree completion in Washington in 2027 is Central Washington University, because 65% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 5 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $241 per credit for Washington residents (the lowest on this list).
- #2 is Western Washington University: 75% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list).
- #3 is University of Washington: 80% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list).
9 of the 10 colleges here are based in Washington. They come first. The rest of the list is online colleges based in neighboring states, ranked with the same measures at their out-of-state rate.
The ranking
Degree Completion Programs in Washington, Ranked
#1Ellensburg, WashingtonCentral Washington University
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies – Social Sciences
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #1: 65% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 5 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $241 per credit for Washington residents (the lowest on this list).
Central Washington University lists its Interdisciplinary Studies social sciences degree among its online undergraduate programs. You draw from anthropology, economics, geography, history, law and justice, and psychology. Send official transcripts for a transfer review, and CWU will show you how your earlier courses apply.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 21%
- Where You Start
- Request a transfer review using official transcripts from your previous colleges.
#2Bellingham, WashingtonWestern Washington University
Bachelor of Arts in Human Services (Distance Learning)
OnlineDegree completion route
Why it ranks #2: 75% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $275 per credit for Washington residents (lower than 7 other colleges on this list).
Western Washington's Human Services degree suits a community college graduate. You need a 2.75 GPA and a transfer degree or within 5 credits of one. Five consecutive quarters of mostly online coursework include two supervised internships, and the school admits each fall and recommends entering with up to 105 transfer credits.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 1%
- Where You Start
- A 2.75 cumulative college GPA and a Washington community college direct transfer degree, or within 5 credits of one.
- Transfer Credits
- Up to 105 transferable credits recommended before entry
- Degree Requirements
- 180 credits
- Study Schedule
- Five consecutive quarters, with admission each fall
#3Seattle, WashingtonUniversity of Washington
Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Social Sciences
OnlineDegree completion route
Why it ranks #3: 80% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list) and its rate is $396 per credit for Washington residents (lower than 6 other colleges on this list).
The University of Washington's Integrated Social Sciences degree considers students with 75 transferable quarter credits and a 2.0 GPA. The degree totals 180 quarter credits, including 60 credits of core coursework, and ends with a capstone that pulls work from across the program together.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 2%
#4Cheney, WashingtonEastern Washington University
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies: Workforce Management
OnlineDegree completion route
Why it ranks #4: 63% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 4 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $251 per credit for Washington residents (lower than 8 other colleges on this list).
Eastern Washington built its Workforce Management degree for adults with job experience. A prior learning portfolio can earn up to 60 elective credits, and the school takes up to 135 quarter credits in transfer. The degree includes minors in business, communication and workplace psychology, and you can finish it online or on the Cheney campus.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 13%
- Where You Start
- Apply and send official transcripts from every college you attended. With fewer than 40 transfer credits you apply as a freshman with a 2.0 college GPA.
- Transfer Credits
- Up to 135 quarter credits
#5Pullman, WashingtonWashington State University
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Management Information Systems
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #5: 66% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 6 other colleges on this list) and its graduates earn a median $62,747 a year (higher than 5 other colleges on this list).
Washington State University runs its online Management Information Systems business degree in seven-week courses, which can fit around a full work schedule. Business-major entry generally requires at least 27 semester credits, a 2.5 GPA and specified business preparation courses, so check your prerequisites before you apply.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 14%
#6Tacoma, WashingtonUniversity of Washington Tacoma
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Online)
OnlineTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #6: 76% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 8 other colleges on this list) and its online rate is $490 per credit for Washington residents (lower than 3 other colleges on this list).
UW Tacoma's online Criminal Justice major is a 65-credit program for students who arrive with at least 90 quarter credits and a 2.00 GPA. You can only start in autumn quarter. A five-credit course costs Washington residents $2,448 and nonresidents $7,766, so your residency status changes the bill a lot.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 3%
- Where You Start
- A 2.00 GPA in transferable coursework and at least 90 college-level quarter credits before the program starts.
- Study Schedule
- Admits students in autumn quarter only
#7Seattle, WashingtonCity University of Seattle
Bachelor of Science in General Studies
OnlineDegree completion route
Why it ranks #7: Its graduates earn a median $99,735 a year (the highest on this list) and 87% of its undergraduates study fully online (the highest on this list).
City University of Seattle lets you bring up to 135 credits into its online General Studies degree, then choose two 20-credit concentrations with an advisor. A portfolio of work and life experience can earn up to 45 credits. Tuition is $515 per credit, and the school says transfer students can finish in as few as six quarters.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 87%
- Degree Requirements
- 180 credits (36 courses)
- Published Tuition
- $515 per credit
#8Kirkland, WashingtonNorthwest University
Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership
OnlineDegree completion route
Why it ranks #8: Its graduates in this field earn a median $72,343 a year (higher than 8 other colleges on this list) and its online rate is $435 per credit for Washington residents (lower than 4 other colleges on this list).
Northwest University in Kirkland starts online students six times a year, so you rarely wait long to begin. The Organizational Leadership degree is 120 credits at $435 per credit for 2026-27. A Washington or Oregon transfer degree brings in 60 semester credits automatically, and every student also takes Bible and theology classes.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 33%
- Where You Start
- A 2.5 GPA for regular admission (2.0 for admission on academic probation) and official college transcripts.
- Transfer Credits
- 60 semester credits transfer automatically with a Washington or Oregon Direct Transfer Agreement degree
- Published Tuition
- $435 per credit (2026-27)
- Study Schedule
- Six start dates a year: September, October, January, March, May and July
#9Toppenish, WashingtonHeritage University
Bachelor of Arts in Social Science
OnlineDegree completion route
Why it ranks #9: 45% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years and its graduates earn a median $57,815 a year (higher than 1 other college on this list).
Heritage University in Toppenish designed its Social Science degree for people whose credits do not fit one major. The criminal and legal studies and psychology concentrations can be taken completely online, with most online classes meeting weekly on Zoom. A Washington community college transfer degree earns you junior standing.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 2%
#10Based in OregonOregon State University
BA or BS in Organizational Leadership
OnlineCorvallis, OregonTransfer entry route
Why it ranks #10: 62% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 3 other colleges on this list) and its online rate is $409 per credit for out-of-state students (lower than 5 other colleges on this list).
A third of the Organizational Leadership degree at Oregon State, an Oregon school, has to be upper division: 60 of at least 180 quarter credits. The two-credit PRIME experience can be an approved project, research, an internship or another listed route. Your previous college coursework is evaluated against the degree plan before you map out what's left.
- Undergraduates Fully Online
- 35%
- Published Tuition
- $409 per credit for online undergraduate programs (Ecampus, 2026-27); business majors pay $438 and engineering majors $480
Build a Plan Around Your Transfer Credits.
List the college credits you already have in the degree planner, then bring that list and your questions to a Washington school’s transfer advisor. The school’s evaluation decides which credits count toward your degree.
Build your degree plan ↗Going Back to College in Washington
If you hold a DTA or have credits from a Washington community college, most of it should carry over. Public universities charge Washington residents less than nonresidents. At Eastern Washington, estimated 2026-27 undergraduate tuition is $8,037 for residents and $25,032 for nonresidents, and a five-credit course at UW Tacoma is $2,448 for residents. Private schools such as City University of Seattle ($515 per credit) and Northwest University ($435) list one per-credit price. Income-eligible residents without a bachelor's degree can also look at the Washington College Grant, so file the FAFSA or WASFA early.
Read the official guidance: Washington College Grant
State need-based aid for income-eligible Washington residents pursuing education beyond high school, including eligible bachelor's programs at participating colleges.
Who qualifies: Washington residents who meet the income requirements, have not earned a bachelor's degree and are enrolling in a financial aid-eligible program at an eligible Washington college.
Visit the official Washington College Grant page ↗Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA)
A community college transfer degree that goes to all public four-year schools and many independent colleges in Washington. Students can generally expect 90 transferable quarter credits and junior class standing once admitted.
Read the official guidance: Every college on every state list is scored the same way, out of 100. The measures, from most to least weight:
- Transfer Student Completion (25%): the share of transfer students who earn a degree within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures).
- Cost per Credit (20%): the online per-credit rate the school publishes, at the resident rate for in-state schools, or the federal per-credit charge when no online rate is published.
- Transfer Credit Maximum (15%): the most transfer credit the featured degree accepts, from the school’s own policy.
- Online Experience (15%): the share of undergraduates who study fully online (IPEDS).
- Graduate Earnings (15%): median earnings of the school’s graduates in that field (College Scorecard).
- School Reputation (10%): a rating of how employers regard the school’s bachelor’s degrees, made the same way for every school from its published facts.
When a measure is missing for a college, it gets the middle value for that measure, so missing data never helps a school move up.
Read the full state ranking method ↗ Before you call an admissions officeQuestions About Finishing Your Degree in Washington
Which School Has the Best Degree Completion Program in Washington?+
The #1 school for degree completion in Washington in 2027 is Central Washington University, because 65% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 5 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $241 per credit for Washington residents (the lowest on this list). #2 is Western Washington University: 75% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list). #3 is University of Washington: 80% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list). The order comes from transfer student graduation rates, cost per credit, transfer credit limits, online experience, graduate earnings and school reputation, weighted the same way for every state.
Will My Washington Associate Degree Count at a Four-Year School?+
If it is a Direct Transfer Agreement degree, yes. The state says a DTA degree transfers to all public four-year schools and to many independent colleges in Washington. Once you are admitted, you can generally expect 90 transferable quarter credits and junior class standing. Schools may add their own requirements, so ask your target school what else it needs.
Read the official guidance: Can I Use the Washington College Grant for an Online Bachelor's Degree?+
It can help if you qualify. You need to be a Washington resident who meets the income requirements, has not already earned a bachelor's degree and has applied to an eligible Washington college. The program must also be financial aid-eligible, so confirm that with the school's financial aid office. File the FAFSA, or the WASFA if you choose not to.
Read the official guidance: How Many Credits Can I Bring to City University of Seattle or Eastern Washington?+
Both take up to 135 credits. Eastern Washington says you can transfer a total of 135 quarter credits toward its bachelor's degree. City University of Seattle says you may be eligible to transfer up to 135 credits into its General Studies degree, and a prior learning portfolio can earn up to 45 credits there.
Read the official guidance: 
