Bothell from the beginning

Decades of innovative education

A part of the University of Washington, the UW Bothell campus was established by approval of the state legislature in 1989. With a founding faculty of just 12, the campus held its first classes in fall 1990 and graduated its first class of three students in 1991.

While it primarily serves residents in King and Snohomish counties, UW Bothell’s student body is composed of a diverse group of people from around the state, the nation and the world.

Although modern in style, UW Bothell buildings are designed to complement the land’s natural beauty and operate with environmental sustainability in mind. With its stunning architecture and landscaping, it’s not surprising the campus received the American Institute of Architects’ Honor Award for Washington Architecture in 2002.

UW Bothell was created to open greater access to the world-renowned UW traditions of academic excellence and engagement to residents of the growing Puget Sound region. The campus — which is shared with Cascadia College — sits on 128 acres of picturesque land overlooking the protected North Creek Wetland and the Cascade mountains beyond.

UW Bothell was built upon, and still occupies, the traditional shared lands and waters of the Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie, Stillaguamish, Suquamish and Tulalip Nations. The property was eventually converted to a 500-acre, purebred cattle ranch owned by the Boone-Truly family. Nested in the heart of the growing city of Bothell, the poperty was sold to the state of Washington in 1995. Campus construction and the wetland restoration began shortly thereafter.

UW Bothell is now home to almost 6,000 students who are enrolled in more than 55 different undergraduate programs and graduate programs.

The campus community has helped drive more than three decades of dynamic development to date, earning a reputation for providing access to an excellent UW education through research, teaching, community partnerships and innovative educational philosophies.

Guided by the campus strategic plan, Expanding Access, Achieving Excellence, UW Bothell’s future will be even more exceptional.

You are invited to help us fulfill our mission and vision by enrolling in our programs, joining the staff or faculty, becoming a community partner, participating in campus events or making a charitable gift to an academic fund or scholarship program.

30th anniversary

2020 marked our third decade as a UW campus. View this 30th anniversary video for a look at how far we’ve come!