Top Washington Colleges and Universities (2009-2010)

This article ranks the top Washington colleges and universities by average (midhinge) SAT scores for recent enrollees.

The SAT college placement exam comprises three sections: critical reading, mathematics, and writing. Each section of the SAT is worth a total of 800 points; therefore, a perfect score is 2400.

Ranking Washington colleges and universities by average SAT scores is the best methodology for several reasons. First, Washington is a so-called "SAT state" where more students sit for the SAT than the ACT exam. Second, every leading Washington college and university reports SAT scores, but not necessarily ACT scores. Finally, it is implicitly recognized that SAT scores are the preferred measure of preparedness when applying to top Washington colleges and universities. By way of example, 75% of recent enrollees at Whitman College submitted SAT results with their applications compared to just 26% who proffered ACT scores.

The following are the top Washington colleges and universities along with their locations, average SAT scores, acceptance rates, and enrollment rates.

1. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Whitman College

Location: Walla Walla, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1995
Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment Rate: 28%

2. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: University of Puget Sound

Location: Tacoma, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1842
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment Rate: 20%

3. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Location: Seattle, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1800
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Enrollment Rate: 45%

4. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Whitworth University

Location: Spokane, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1765
Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment Rate: 18%

5. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Gonzaga University

Location: Spokane, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1751
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment Rate: 28%

6. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Seattle University

Location: Seattle, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1735
Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment Rate: 21%

7. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Seattle Pacific University

Location: Seattle, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1675
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment Rate: 37%

8. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Western Washington University

Location: Pullman, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1660
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment Rate: 38%

9. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: The Evergreen State College

Location: Olympia, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1646
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Enrollment Rate: 34%

10. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Pacific Lutheran University

Location: Tacoma, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1610
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment Rate: 36%

11. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Washington State University

Location: Pullman, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1600
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment Rate: 37%

12. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Location: Bothell, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1550
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment Rate: 43%

13. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Northwest University

Location: Kirkland, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1493
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment Rate: 48%

14. (tie) Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Saint Martin's University

Location: Lacey, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1460
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Enrollment Rate: 31%

14. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Location: Tacoma, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1460
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Enrollment Rate: 47%

15. Top Washington Colleges and Universities: Central Washington University

Location: Ellensburg, Washington
Average SAT Score: 1459
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Enrollment Rate: 40%

NOTE: Some Washington colleges and universities do not report SAT Writing scores. In such cases, scores were statistically imputed from Critical Reading scores. Specialty colleges and universities with limited courses of study, and institutions with "open admission" policies, are not included in these rankings.

To read more from this writer CLICK HERE.

Source(s): "COLLEGE Navigator," ies NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS