College Admissions

Community and Technical Colleges

Community and Technical Colleges

Washington offers broad access to students through its 34 community and technical colleges, whose open admissions policies are designed to eliminate barriers between students and postsecondary education. However, some admission standards do apply. Get more information from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Public Colleges

Public Colleges

Students who aspire to attend a four-year public college in Washington must apply for admission. Admission is determined using a holistic assessment including factors such as the type, level and grades in courses, and other activities inside and outside of the school environment, including a student’s journey up to the point of application. Some high schools participate in the Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program (WAGAP), guaranteeing admission to students who meet certain criteria. Students still need to apply. Read the full admission standards policy.

Required high school courses are known as the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs). Washington Administrative Code (WAC 392-415-070) requires each school district to determine which of its high school courses meet CADR requirements and ensure students' standardized high school transcripts label such courses as meeting the requirements.

Completing CADR courses does not guarantee admission to one of the state's six public colleges. Colleges consider several criteria when making admission decisions.

Minimum college admission standards for public four-year colleges include: 

• 2.0 GPA
• Completing courses that meet the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs). 
• Note: Each school district is responsible for determining which of their courses meet state CADRs.

Specific admission information for first-year students entering Washington's public colleges: 

• Central Washington University
• Eastern Washington University
• The Evergreen State College
• University of Washington
• Washington State University
• Western Washington University

Private Colleges

Private Colleges

• Private colleges develop and maintain their own admission standards. Please reach out to the college for additional information.
• The following colleges are a part of the Independent Colleges of Washington, which may serve as an additional resource for your admissions questions:
  • Gonzaga University
  • Heritage University
  • Pacific Lutheran University
  • Saint Martin's University
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • Seattle University
  • University of Puget Sound
  • Whitman College
  • Whitworth University

Transfer Pathways

Transfer Pathways

Students take different paths to a earn certificate, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or advanced degree. A large percentage of those who enter a college as freshmen graduate from that college. Others may enroll at one college and then transfer to another. And still others start at a community college and transfer to a four-year college. Visit our Transfers page for more information.

Credits to Complete a Degree

Credits to Complete a Degree 

To earn an associate degree at a community or technical college, a student must complete 90 quarter or 60 semester credits. By design, this is the same number of credits needed to complete the first two years of a bachelor's degree program. A bachelor's degree generally requires the completion of a total of 180 quarter or 120 semester credits. Bachelor's and associate degrees require students to complete credits in two types of course material.

1. General Education: General education courses cover a broad range of basic subjects.​ These courses give students a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to draw from as they advance to deeper study in specific fields.

2. Preparation for Major Coursework:

• Additional credits required for an associate degree usually focus on a specific area of emphasis. Associate transfer degrees prepare students to transfer to specific bachelor's degree programs at four-year colleges. 
• Students seeking a bachelor's degree are expected to complete major-specific preparatory courses in the first two years. Some programs, such as engineering, require more major-specific preparatory courses while others, such as history, require fewer.