Private and out-of-state colleges and universities with facilities in state

Continuously Exempt Institutions

Exempt from state authorization and review, as long as they continue to meet exemption requirements outlined in state laws and rules.

Art Institute of Seattle
Bastyr University
City University of Seattle
Cornish College of the Arts
Fuller Theological Seminary
Gonzaga University
Heritage University
ITT Technical Institute-Spokane
Northwest College of Art & Design
Northwest University
Northwest Indian College
Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding
Pacific Lutheran University
Saint Martin's University
Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle University
Trinity Lutheran College
University of Puget Sound
Walla Walla University
Whitman College
Whitworth University

Authorized Institutions

Degree-granting institutions that have received state authorization to operate in Washington. Authorization applies only to specific programs, locations or activities the institution requested for authorization. 

Antioch University Seattle
Argosy University/Seattle
Ashford University
A.T. Still University
Babson College
Bainbridge Graduate Institute
Bakke Graduate University
Brandman University
Capella University
Carrington College
Central Texas College
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Charter College
Columbia College of Missouri
Concorde Career College
Concordia University
Corban University
Cornell University
DeVry University
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Everest College-Bremerton, Everett, Tacoma
Everest College-Vancouver
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts
Faith Evangelical College and Seminary
Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center
Gather4Him Christian College
Goddard College
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
Golden Gate University
Grand Canyon University
Hope International University
Interface College
International Academy of Design & Technology
ITT Technical Institute-Everett
ITT Technical Institute-Seattle
Lesley University
Lewis and Clark College
Lincoln College of Technology
Miami University
Moody Bible Institute-Spokane
Multnomah University

National University
Northeastern University
Northwest Institute of Literary Arts/Whidbey Writers Workshop
Northwestern College
Nova Southeastern University
Old Dominion University
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Park University of Missouri
Perry Technical College
Pima Medical Institute
Portland State University
Sanford-Brown College-Portland
Saybrook University
Seattle Film Institute
Seattle School of Theology and Psychology
SelfDesign Graduate Institute
Southern Illinois University
Tacoma Bible College
Trinity Western University
Troy University
University of Phoenix
University of Southern California
Universal Technical Institute
Vincennes University
Walden University
Warner Pacific College
Washington Engineering Institute
Webster University
Western Oregon University
WyoTech

Conditionally Exempt Institutions

Offer degree programs or courses exclusively to federal employees and their dependents of at military bases or other federal sites. The state may review every two years.

Baylor University
Vicennes University

Conditional Waiver Institutions

Granted in rare circumstances to institutions with limited educational offerings.

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
New Mexico State University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Institution of Technology
Strayer University
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Foreign Degree-granting Branch Campuses

Foreign-based institutions offering limited courses in Washington. The HECB reviews these institutions every two years.

Mukogawa Ft. Wright Institute
Trajal Hospitality & Tourism College

Waiver/Legislative Recognition

Waiver based on recognition by the Legislature as a Washington degree-granting institution that does not receive public funds.

Western Governors University - Washington