When pursuing a college degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Washington ranking is part of that endeavor.
We analyzed 29 colleges and universities across Washington to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking for the best schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. The following gives more info on what goes into our ranking factors and why we consider those factors.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. While associate degree recipients from schools in Washington earn an average starting salary of $47,646, those from the top 23 school on this list made an average of $48,202.
Starting Salary ( 33219 to 63823 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in Washington take out an average of $11,711.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, check out our other college rankings to help you with your college decision.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in Washington for overall quality. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a small public school located in Kirkland, Washington that handed out 497 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $63,336 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clover Park Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. CPTC is a small public school situated in Lakewood, Washington. It awarded 463 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from CPTC is $39,996 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bellevue College. It ranked #3 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Bellevue, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,783 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from BC make an average of $56,247 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,500 after getting their degree.
The excellent associate degree programs at Green River College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Washington. Auburn, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,312 students in 2021-2022.
The excellent associate degree programs at Highline College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Washington. Des Moines, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 893 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Highline make an average of $48,522 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,655 after getting their degree.
Shoreline Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Shoreline Community College is a small public school situated in Shoreline, Washington. It awarded 746 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Shoreline Community College make an average of $64,632 a year.
With a ranking of #7, Bellingham Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute is a small public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 389 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Columbia Basin College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. CBC is located in Pasco, Washington and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,225 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from CBC make an average of $72,124 per year during the early years of their career.
Renton Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Renton Technical College is a small public school located in Renton, Washington that handed out 207 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Renton Technical College is $80,411 during the early years of their career.
Seattle Central College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #10. Seattle Central is a medium-sized public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 840 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Seattle Central go into careers with an average salary of $40,652 during the early years of their career.
Spokane Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #11. Spokane Community College is a public institution located in Spokane, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,134 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Spokane Community College go into careers with an average salary of $45,942 during the early years of their career.
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #12. Lakewood, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,664 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom go into careers with an average salary of $24,101 during the early years of their career.
Everett Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Everett Community College is a public institution located in Everett, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,060 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Everett Community College make an average of $50,479 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,000 in student loans.
Tacoma Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Tacoma Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Tacoma, Washington. It awarded 1,051 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Tacoma Community College go into careers with an average salary of $48,566 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,011 after getting their degree.
Olympic College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Olympic College is a medium-sized public school located in Bremerton, Washington that handed out 1,230 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from OC go into careers with an average salary of $60,716 during the early years of their career.
Walla Walla Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #16. Walla Walla, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 571 students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Walla Walla Community College is $64,075 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #17, Wenatchee Valley College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. This small public school is located in Wenatchee, Washington, and it awarded 702 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from WVC is $52,204 during the early years of their career.
Clark College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Vancouver, Washington, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,332 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,499 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,292.
With a ranking of #19, Cascadia College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Cascadia College is a public institution located in Bothell, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 450 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Cascadia College make an average of $27,352 per year during the early years of their career.
Whatcom Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Located in Bellingham, Washington, the small public school awarded 744 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Whatcom Community College make an average of $39,462 per year during the early years of their career.
Yakima Valley College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Yakima Valley College is a small public school located in Yakima, Washington that handed out 697 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from YVC go into careers with an average salary of $42,667 during the early years of their career.
Edmonds Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Edmonds Community College is located in Lynnwood, Washington and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 793 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Edmonds Community College go into careers with an average salary of $21,520 during the early years of their career.
Spokane Falls Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington ranking. Spokane Falls Community College is a public institution located in Spokane, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,031 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Spokane Falls Community College is $32,783 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,913.
Big Bend Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Moses Lake, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 447 students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Big Bend Community College make an average of $39,088 per year during the early years of their career.
Lower Columbia College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Washington list. Lower Columbia College is a small public school located in Longview, Washington that handed out 491 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,281 during the early years of their career.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
