The Best Business Schools in Seattle for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Seattle
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranks #1 in the Seattle area on a 98.3 Program Score, with an 85% graduation rate.
- Public schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Lake Washington Institute of Technology, ranks #5.
- Programs analyzed
- 92
- Schools ranked
- 5
- Tuition range
- $3,291-$55,620
- Average graduation rate
- 65%
We analyzed 92 accredited business programs in Seattle and the surrounding metro and ranked 5 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 5 ranked schools runs from $3,291 to $55,620 a year, a $52,329 spread for the same credential.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads with a 98.3 Program Score on an 85% graduation rate, at $11,869 a year. Across all 5 ranked business schools in Seattle the average graduation rate is 65%, ranging from 37% to 85%. 3 of the 5 are public and 2 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.
How the Top Business Schools in Seattle Compare
Washington-Seattle leads at 98.3, and Lake Washington Institute of Technology closes the chart at 60.3. Longer bars rank higher.
How We Rank Business Schools in Seattle
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 5 Best Business Schools in Seattle, Ranked for 2027
The 5 best Business Schools in Seattle, ranked by outcomes.
University of Washington-Seattle
Seattle, WA · Public
- Grad rate
- 85%
- Admit rate
- 39%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
University of Washington-Seattle's Master of Professional Accounting takes three quarters of full-time study plus an internship, and the school reports 96% of 2025 students had job offers before graduating.
- 85% graduation rate
- Program Score 98.3
- Three quarters plus internship
- Audit analytics and ESG focus
The University of Washington's Master of Professional Accounting at the Foster School is a full-time program of three quarters of study plus an internship, about nine months of intensive coursework. Topics include accounting analytics, ESG reporting and communication, and students explore AI, data visualization and robotic process automation. The school describes the program as a training ground for audit analytics and says no programming experience is necessary. It states the program prepares students for the CPA exam in Washington State, and reports that 96% of 2025 students received job offers before graduating. Applications for 2026-2027 open October 1, 2026, with a February 2, 2027 deadline.
Federal data show an 85% graduation rate at the University of Washington and an admit rate of 39%. The program earns a Program Score of 98.3 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits graduates with an accounting or business background who want to meet CPA education requirements quickly and aim for audit and assurance careers, and who can commit to a compact, full-time, on-campus year with an internship built into it.
Seattle University
Seattle, WA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 76%
- Admit rate
- 77%
- In-state
- $55,620
- Out-of-state
- $55,620
Seattle University reports a 100% placement rate for its 2023-24 accounting graduates, counting full-time work or graduate school within six months.
- 76% graduation rate
- Program Score 86.7
- Accelerated master's option
- 100% placement, per the school
Seattle University's accounting major leads to a BA in Business Administration through the Albers School of Business and Economics. It is an in-person, four-year program of 120 semester or 180 quarter credits on the First Hill campus, with a junior-transfer degree plan also published. The school says the curriculum prepares students for CPA eligibility and for credentials such as the CMA, CIA, CISA and EA. Students can start the Master's in Accounting and Analytics early by waiving up to nine credits through three shared senior-year courses. The school reports AACSB accreditation and ACCA education partner status, and points to student clubs such as Beta Alpha Psi.
Federal data show a 76% graduation rate at Seattle University and an admit rate of 77%. Tuition is listed at $55,620 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 86.7 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a smaller private campus, a clear path to CPA eligibility and a head start on a master's degree, and who are prepared for private-university tuition.
University of Washington-Bothell
Bothell, WA · Public
- Grad rate
- 65%
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
The UW Bothell MSA can be finished in one year full time or in under two years part time, and the school reports AACSB accreditation.
- 65% graduation rate
- Program Score 83.4
- One-year full-time option
- Part-time under two years
The University of Washington Bothell offers a Master of Science in Accounting designed for both working professionals and career changers. The school reports that the program is AACSB accredited and covers financial reporting, auditing, taxation, business strategy and analytics, with an emphasis on applied learning through real-world cases and technology. It is built to prepare students for CPA licensure and leadership roles. Students can finish in one year full time or in under two years part time, and the page describes small cohorts and mentorship from industry professionals. Roles the program points graduates toward include auditor, tax specialist, corporate financial analyst and forensic accountant, and the page lists Deloitte and PwC among alumni firms.
Federal data show a 65% graduation rate at the university and an admit rate of 91%. The program's Program Score of 83.4 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The page names four groups it suits: recent accounting graduates preparing for the CPA exam, working professionals seeking management credentials, career changers with quantitative backgrounds, and international applicants. The part-time pace makes it workable for people who are employed in the Seattle area while they study.
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 62%
- Admit rate
- 83%
- In-state
- $39,492
- Out-of-state
- $39,492
Seattle Pacific University's Business Administration BA requires 98 credits, 66 of them upper division, with a 15-credit finance concentration.
- 62% graduation rate
- Program Score 81.5
- Finance concentration
- 98-credit major
Seattle Pacific University (SPU) offers a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration through its College of Business and Technology, with a Finance concentration. The program develops a general management outlook, and the finance concentration teaches students to build budgets for capital projects or work in the financial markets. The major requires at least 98 credits, including 66 upper-division credits. The general core covers accounting, economics, statistics, business law, management information systems, operations, data analytics, social ventures, strategic management and business ethics. The concentration adds Investments, Problems in Corporate Finance and The Practice of Finance. Students must apply to the major after reaching sophomore standing, with a 2.50 cumulative and major GPA or a 3.0 major GPA, and admission is limited by capacity.
Federal data shows a 62% graduation rate at SPU and an admit rate of 83%. In-state tuition is $39,492, the same as out-of-state tuition at this private university. The program has a Program Score of 81.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a structured general business core with a finance specialty and who are ready to apply for major admission.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA · Public
- Grad rate
- 37%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $3,291
- Out-of-state
- $8,804
Lake Washington Institute of Technology's Entrepreneurship BAS is an online degree for associate degree holders who want to run a small business or manage in a technical field.
- Program Score 60.3
- $3,291 in-state tuition
- Open admission
- Online BAS for associate degree holders
Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management with an Entrepreneurship focus, described on its page as an online program. It is designed for students who already hold an applied associate degree in a professional-technical discipline and want career advancement or a career change. The school says graduates build expertise in business structures, wealth creation, operational management and entrepreneurial principles, and are prepared to run a business, work as a contractor or consultant, or manage in a technical field. Entry requires an applied associate degree or equivalent from an accredited institution, a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and English Composition 1, a college-level math course and a social science course. LWTech reports regional accreditation at the baccalaureate level.
The school is open admission. Federal data shows a 37% graduation rate. In-state tuition is $3,291 and out-of-state tuition is $8,804. The program has a Program Score of 60.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and technical graduates who want a bachelor's degree built on their applied associate credits.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Seattle
The median school on this list graduates 65% of its students. The highest rates belong to University of Washington-Seattle Campus (85%) and Seattle University (76%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 University of Washington-Seattle Campus85% graduation rate
- #2 Seattle University76% graduation rate
- #3 University of Washington-Bothell Campus65% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Seattle?
On this list, 1 of 5 schools is open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Of the rest, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being University of Washington-Seattle Campus at 39%.
- #1 University of Washington-Seattle Campus39% admitted
- #2 Seattle University77% admitted
- #4 Seattle Pacific University83% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Seattle
Enrollment on this list runs from 2,261 at Seattle Pacific University to 56,997 at University of Washington-Seattle Campus. Of the 5, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 2 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Seattle Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWashington-Seattle | $102,727 | $13,663 |
| #2 | Seattle UniversitySeattle U | $97,466 | $34,324 |
| #3 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusWashington-Bothell | $102,727 | $13,802 |
| #4 | Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle Pacific | $84,493 | $25,419 |
Graduates of Washington-Seattle earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $102,727; the lowest figure here is $84,493 at Seattle Pacific.
Washington-Seattle leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
Net price, what the average aided undergraduate pays after grants, ranges from $13,663 a year at Washington-Seattle to $34,324 at Seattle U.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Seattle Cost
Tuition across the 5 ranked schools runs from $3,291 to $55,620 a year. Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland anchors the low end at $3,291 a year, while Seattle University in Seattle sits at the top at $55,620. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Seattle is Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland at $3,291; the cheapest private is Seattle Pacific University in Seattle at $39,492.
Over the four years the credential takes, that is roughly $13,164 in tuition at Lake Washington Institute of Technology against about $222,480 at Seattle University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Seattle from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Seattle
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Seattle do not all offer the same ones. Across the 92 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Seattle are business administration (12 schools), accounting (8 schools), marketing (6 schools), healthcare administration (4 schools), human resources (4 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 8 of the schools analyzed in Seattle run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Seattle
3 of the 5 ranked business schools in Seattle are public and 2 are private, and that split drives most of the $52,329 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland charges $3,291 in-state and $8,804 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Seattle
The 5 ranked schools sit across 3 towns in the metro, among them Seattle, Bothell, and Kirkland, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Seattle: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best business school in Seattle?
By Program Score, University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranks first among the 5 ranked business schools in Seattle, with a 98.3 score and an 85% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Seattle?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Seattle, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Seattle?
Tuition among the ranked Seattle schools runs from $3,291 to $62,310 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Seattle living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Seattle does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 92 accredited business programs across Seattle and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 5 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Seattle metro, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Seattle instead of online?
None of the 5 ranked schools is a confirmed online option, so in Seattle the campus route is the one this list offers. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $3,291 in-state, Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.