The 15 Best Business Schools In Washington State

Are you looking for the best business schools in Washington State? Earning a degree from one of the top business schools in Washington State is a great calling card for a stable, high-paying career.

Companies in Washington State have been at the forefront of globalization and new technologies creating new jobs, new companies, and even entirely new industries. For over 35 years, companies in Washington have led the way for changes in the way jobs are done all over the world, and the skill sets and educational requirements needed to be successful on the job.

Washington State Business Opportunities

As a result, job opportunities in Washington have been growing at one of the nation's highest rates. Washington has produced 740,000 job openings in just the last five years, and the competition for well-trained professional workers has fueled unusually high salaries.

One example of just how many opportunities there are for workers in Washington is the generous opportunities for overtime pay even in white-collar jobs. By January 1, 2022, workers in companies with 50 or more employees who earn less than $98,820 per year in base pay will get time and a half for overtime work. If you put in long hours, you will get great pay. But if you get your degree from one of the 15 top business schools in Washington state, your starting salary could easily be more than $98,820 per year.

Criteria Washington States' business schools are looking for

What are the top business schools in Washington state looking for in the students they admit?

Undergraduate grades make a difference, but they are far from the only factor in selecting applicants for admission.

Business schools aren't just academic programs, they are professional schools for developing the leadership skills necessary for business success. Admissions committees will not necessarily screen any applicant in or out of their programs before considering the contributions they have made to the organizations where they have worked.

Team Players

Washington's Elite business schools assess whether a student is a team player. They consider whether each applicant can make valuable contributions to group projects and how well they can communicate with their peers, with their management, and with future subordinates.

Test Scores

Test scores can validate the potential of applicants who come to business school from non-traditional backgrounds. Humanities majors who score well on tests of quantitative abilities, for instance, will reassure business schools that they can pass rigorous math-oriented coursework required for their BA, BBA, MBA degree.

Self Awareness

And no matter what your prior field of study, whether it was business, STEM, politics, humanities, fine arts, or a service field, the leading business school admission committees prefer students who are self-aware.

What does it mean to be self-aware in the process of applying to a great Washington state business school?

Nobody is above-average across the board. Everybody has relative strengths and relative weaknesses. Business school application committees will look for applicants who are aware of their vulnerabilities and what they need to do to compensate for them, as well as how their shortcomings help them channel their talents into the most productive area of specialization.

No applicant should be afraid to admit the areas in which they need to develop. Seeking personal growth and having a well-considered plan of how your attendance at the business school will help you grow into your leadership role will bolster your application.

Finding the best business school for you

Don't be discouraged if an admissions committee decides that you are not the best fit for their program. The fact is, they know what their programs demand better than you do, and you don't want to find out that you were a mismatch to the school that admitted you only after a year of work.

But do know that every great student can find a place in one of the 15 best business schools in Washington state. Just take a careful look at every program to make the best match of business school training to your professional goals.

The 15 best business schools in Washington state:

1. University of Washington Foster School of Business

City: Seattle, WA

Business degrees offered: 16

Foster School of Business offers 16 degrees including undergraduate degrees in business, a full-time MBA, an evening and weekend MBA program for students holding down full-time employment, an executive MBA, a hybrid MBA, a technology MBA, Master of Professional Accounting, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Science in Entrepreneurship, Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Taxation, Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, and Ph.D.

Undergraduate and graduate students can study

1. Accounting
2. Not-for-profit management consulting
3. Economics
4. Finance
5. Entrepreneurship
6. General management
7. Health care administration
8. Leadership
9. International business
10. Manufacturing and technology management
11. Marketing
12. Management information systems
13. Production/operations management
14. Portfolio management
15. Public administration
16. Real estate
17. Supply chain management/logistics
18. Quantitative analysis/statistics
19. Operations research
20. Organizational behavior
21. Transportation

The university also has certificate programs in global business and salesmanship.

Foster School of Business Average annual tuition: $50,436 for full-time, out-of-state students, $34,039 for full-time students who are Washington residents.

School size: 2,500 students

Private or public? Public

Does the University of Washington Foster School of Business focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

The University of Washington is famous for its collaborative learning. Students might work together at a project for Starbucks or Amazon, or they might develop leadership skills by climbing Mt. Rainier.

What makes the University of Washington Foster School of Business one of Washington state's top business schools?

University of Washington graduates earn famously high starting salaries. The average base salary of a recent University of Washington MBA grad is $122,841 per year. University of Washington graduates have networking opportunities all over the world, especially in cutting-edge, high-tech industries. The University of Washington consistently ranks in the top 25 business schools in the US in most listings.

2. Gonzaga University School of Business Administration

City: Spokane, WA

Business degrees offered: 4

1. Bachelor of Business Administration
2. Master of Business Administration
3. Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
4. Master of Science in Taxation (MSTax)

Average annual tuition: $45,140

School size: 1000 in the undergraduate program. There are just 120 students in Gonzaga's MBA program, and about 85 of them are working professionals.

Private or public? Private

Does the School of Business Administration at Gonzaga University focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Gonzaga's business program promotes itself as a leader in Jesuit business education.

What makes the School of Business Administration at Gonzaga University one of Washington state's top business schools?

The Catholic orientation of the university does not mean that it lags in producing highly skilled business graduates: U.S. News and World Report ranks Gonzaga's part-time MBA and MBA in Finance programs among the top 50 best in the nation. Over 70 percent of Gonzaga accounting graduates pass the CPA exams on their first attempt, placing the Accounting Department in the top 25 in the nation.

3. University of Puget Sound School of Business and Leadership

City: Tacoma, WA

Business degrees offered: 3

1. Bachelor of Arts in Business with an emphasis on Business Administration
2. International Business
3. Business Leadership

Average annual tuition: $51.740

School size: 200

Private or public? Private

Does the University of Puget Sound School of Business Administration focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

The university's business leadership program matches selected students with Washington state business leaders for professional growth opportunities.

What makes the University of Puget Sound School of Business Administration one of Washington state's best business schools?

The University of Puget Sound is famous for having one of the most picturesque campuses in the USA. The university is a socially vibrant community without being a party school. Many students of the university find roles in public service. The business school is nationally recognized for LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs, and practice. But the business school has been recognized by Forbes for producing one of the highest numbers of entrepreneurs in the United States.

4. Washington State University Carson College of Business

City: Pullman, WA

Business degrees offered: Bachelor of Business Administration degrees with majors in:

1. Accounting
2. Business administration
3. Entrepreneurship
4. Finance
5. Hospitality business administration
6. International business
7. Management
8. Management information systems (MIS)
9. Marketing, senior living management
10. Wine & beverage business management

The Carson College of Business also offers certificates in behavior business research and professional sales. The Carson School of Business at Washington State University also offers MBA and Ph.D. degrees in most of these fields.

Average annual tuition: $25,702 for out-of-state students, $10,760 for Washington residents.

School size: 5,771

Private or public? Public

Does the Carson School of Business at Washington State focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

The Carson School of Business is nationally known for its online MBA, especially for students concentrating in entrepreneurship or marketing, and for its graduate and undergraduate studies in hospitality administration.

What makes the Carson School of Business at Washington State University one of Washington state's great business schools?

The business school at Washington State is famous for being what students make of it. It can be a good school for serious students, and a party school for students who need to enjoy their college experience. Admissions are not especially selective — about 77 percent of applicants get in — so the university is a good second chance for students seeking to compensate for less-than-perfect academic performance in their pasts.

5. Northwest University College of Business

City: Kirkland, WA

Business degrees offered: 2

1. Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
2. Master of Business Administration

Average annual tuition: $32,960

School size: 200

Private or public? Private

Does Northwest University School of Business and Management focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Northwest University offers courses in business administration with a focus on Christian music.

What makes the Northwest University School of Business and Management one of Washington state's top business schools?

Northwest University offers Christ-centered liberal arts education along with professional placement in major firms throughout the Seattle area. The university is an excellent jumping-off point for business majors who expect to focus on serving customers connected to the Assemblies of God.

6. Whitworth University School of Business

City: Spokane, WA

Business degrees offered: 10

Bachelor's degrees in economics, business management, economics, finance, accounting, marketing, international business, and organizational management. Two master's degree programs, including an evening MBA program.

Average annual tuition: $44,940

School size: 200

Private or public? Private

Does Whitworth University focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Whitworth emphasizes entrepreneurship with a focus on international trade.

What makes Whitworth University one of Washington state's top business schools?

Whitworth University has only graduated about 500 MBAs, but they form an unusually tight alumni group fostering international business connections.

7. University of Washington – Bothell

City: Bothell, WA

Business degrees offered: Undergraduate business degrees, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accounting.

Average annual tuition: $38,091 for out-of-state students, $11,390 for Washington state residents.

School size: 900 undergraduates and graduates.

Private or public? Public

Does UW Bothell School of Business focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

The University of Washington at Bothell School of Business invests considerable faculty effort in its Livable City Program, training students to combine business expertise with community service. The business school also offers a joint MSN/MBA program with the School of Nursing.

What makes the UW Bothell School of Business one of Washington state's top business schools?

Every department of the University of Washington at Bothell emphasizes the 3 C's: cross-disciplinarity, connected learning, and community engagement. Its relatively small size for a public university gives students more opportunities to meet future professionals in related fields with whom they can develop lifelong relationships.

8. Seattle Pacific University School of Business, Government, and Economics

City: Seattle, WA

Business degrees offered: Undergraduate degrees in accounting, business administration, economics, global development studies, political science.

Average annual tuition: $45,078

School size: 300

Private or public? Private

Does the Seattle Pacific University School of Business, Government, and Economics focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Seattle Pacific University hosts a Center for Integrity in Business that enables students to meet leading experts in ethics in business and politics and that prepares them for careers that involve ethical oversight of organizations or agencies.

What makes the Seattle Pacific University School of Business, Government, and Economics one of the best business schools in Washington State?

To quote the dean of the School of Business, Government, and Economics, “Our distinct Christian identity and academic rigor, combined with our strategic location in one of the world's leading cities, enable us to develop leaders focused on advancing human flourishing through service in business, government, and civil society.”

9. Pacific Lutheran University School of Business

City: Tacoma, WA

Business degrees offered: Bachelor of Business Administration

Average annual tuition: $46,374

School size: 400

Private or public? Private

Does Pacific Lutheran University focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Pacific Lutheran University operates on a 4-1-4 school calendar, with a January term. Business students are encouraged to pursue internships and other intensive professional growth experiences in Washington during the January term.

What makes Pacific Lutheran University one of the top business schools in Washington State?

Pacific Lutheran University invests considerable energy in making sure its business students graduate in four years so they can enter the business world right away.

10. Seattle University Albers School of Economics

City: Seattle, WA

Business degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration.

Average annual tuition: $46,950

School size: About 1000 students

Private or public? Private

Does the Albers School of Economics at Seattle University focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Albers is known for its many specialty programs, including the Center for Business Ethics, the Center for Global Business, the Center for Leadership Formation, the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, its International Development Program, and MotMot Coffee, a student-run coffee company that teaches principles of community development and international business with hands-on experiences in the United States and abroad.

What makes the Albers School of Economics one of Washington state's great business schools?

Seattle University is known for giving its students individual attention. As one student commented, “I chose Albers because the faculty makes me feel like an individual rather than a number in a massive lecture hall. Having that one-on-one connection makes me feel supported and ready to succeed.”

Seattle University is famous for its summer programs for students of African-American, Latino, and North American Indian heritage to get used to the academic rigor of college work. It does not require either the GMAT or the GRE for admission to its MBA program.

11. University of Washington Milgard School of Business – Tacoma

City: Tacoma, WA

Business degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and Master of Accounting, Transcripts note specializations in General Business, Finance, Accounting, Management, or Marketing.

Average annual tuition: $38,340 for out-of-state students, $11,639 for Washington residents.

School size: 6000

Private or public? Public

Does the University of Washington at Tacoma Milgard School of Business focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

The Milgard School of Business focuses on graduate programs. It's Master of Science in Business Analytics program is designed for working professionals to learn how to choose and implement a variety of quantitative as well as qualitative analysis techniques for future careers as business analysts, project managers, and digital talents. The curriculum is divided into Business, Data, Analytics, and Information courses and Knowledge, Wisdom, Practice, and Outcome courses.

What makes the University of Washington at Tacoma Milgard School of Business one of Washington state's finest business schools?

The Milgard School of Business specializes in connecting majors to careers, especially in high-paying, high-demand STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related positions.

12. Walla Walla University School of Business

City: College Place, WA

Business degrees offered: 10 Bachelor's degrees

1. Accounting
2. Automotive management
3. Aviation management
4. Finance
5. Marketing
6. Management
7. Information systems
8. Global development
9. Entrepreneurship
10. And small business management

Average annual tuition: $28,881

School size: 250

Private or public? Private

Does the School of Business at Walla Walla University focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Classes are project-based, and 100 percent of students participate in internships.

What makes the School of Business at Walla Walla University one of the best business schools in Washington State?

Walla Walla University is a small school where professors give students opportunities to connect with Fortune 500 executives but guide them with close personal attention in hands-on learning.

13. St. Martin's University School of Business

City: Lacey, WA

Business degrees offered: 3

1. Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
2. Master of Business Administration
3. Master of Accountancy

Average annual tuition: $38,560

School size: 300

Private or public? Private

Does the School of Business Administration at St. Martin's University focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

The Masters of Accountancy (MAcc) or Master of Business Administration (MBA) through a 4+1, or, in some cases, a 3+ 1 program, reducing the time to get a master's degree.

What makes the School of Business Administration at St. Martin's University one of Washington state's greatest business schools?

The School of Business Administration at St. Martin's University enables students to complete their professional education early for longer, more productive, more highly compensated careers. The Business School gives students the individual attention they need to succeed in any business setting.

14. Western Washington University College of Business and Economics

City: Bellingham, WA

Business degrees offered: 2

1. Bachelor of Business Administration
2. Masters of Business Administration

Average annual tuition: $24,690 for out-of-state students, $8,343 for Washington residents.

School size: 4000

Private or public? Public

Does Western Washington University focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Western Washington University College of Business and Economics allows both undergraduate and graduate students to create their own business majors to support their unique career goals.

What makes Western Washington University one of Washington state's top business schools?

Western Washington University offers a unique combination of courses preparing students for professional positions in business in Asia.

15. Central Washington University College of Business

City: Ellensburg, WA

Business degrees offered: 6 Bachelor's degrees

1. Finance
2. HR management
3. Leadership and management
4. Marketing
5. Supply chain management

Average annual tuition: $23,954 for out-of-state students, $8,273 for Washington residents.

School size: 1500

Private or public? Public

Does Central Washington University focus on a specialty field or is it known for a certain skill?

Central Washington University  is known for “making accessibility accessible.” Business majors at Central Washington University are trained for business careers emphasizing accessibility.

What makes Central Washington University one of Washington state's top business schools?

Central Washington University College of Business offers mature, focused students an opportunity to make their own business major to support their career goals.