The 2027 U.S. News & World Report on “Best Colleges” ranked the University of Washington Bothell No. 3 among Top Public Schools in the Western region and tied for No. 3 overall among Regional Universities (West) — moving up from No. 4 and No. 6 for the categories, respectively.
“UW Bothell is truly a regional-serving campus,” said UW Bothell Chancellor Kristin G. Esterberg. “What makes our campus so special is that by offering a world-class education on a smaller campus, we are able to foster close student-faculty relationships and community engagement opportunities that are foundational to the academic, professional and personal success of our students — and by extension, the region.
“To receive this recognition affirms our commitment to strengthening the broader region through a transformational education experience.”
An overwhelming majority of students who enroll at UW Bothell are from Washington state — representing 96% of incoming first-year students and 92% of incoming transfers in autumn 2025.
Students also tend to stay close after graduating. Nine out of 10 students in the University’s network of more than 35,000 alumni live and work in Washington, and more than two-thirds live within a 25-mile radius of campus.
“Many of our students have gone on to serve the Puget Sound area and beyond through vital roles, such as teachers, nurses and engineers,” Esterberg said. “Today, our alumni are leaders and innovators in the community, and their contributions can be seen and felt throughout the region.”
“To receive this recognition affirms our commitment to strengthening the broader region through a transformational education experience.”
UW Bothell Chancellor Kristin G. Esterberg
According to a UW 2024 Economic Impact Report, UW Bothell generates an estimated $394 million in annual economic impact for the state of Washington through direct spending, job creation and the University’s role in supporting a skilled, local workforce. Also included in that figure are alumni earnings, which are consistently the highest in the state among all graduates with comparable degrees from public, four-year institutions, according to the Education Research & Data Center.
The 2027 U.S. News & World Report also recognized UW Bothell, tied with one other university, as No. 3 in Best Colleges for Veterans across Regional Universities (West). This ranking is based on participation in federal initiatives that help veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees.
This year the report also added a new category for “Best Value Schools for In-State Students,” in which the University ranked No. 5. The ranking compares the academic quality to the cost of attendance for in-state students, with the highest ranking being awarded to the highest quality education for the lowest cost.
In 2024-25, 73% of undergraduate students and 69% of graduate students at UW Bothell graduated debt free.
“Improving access to education by offering quality education at a lower cost and removing financial barriers where possible remains a top priority for us,” Esterberg said. “It is a point of pride to know that so many of our students, upon graduation, are not burdened by debt but can instead focus on their next chapter — embarking on exciting new careers and contributing meaningfully to the region.”
