Colleges in Washington

Prior to July 1, 2012 the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board, a state agency with a 10-member board of citizens, worked to improve and oversee colleges in Washington. Duties were then transferred to a new cabinet-level council called the Washington Student Achievement Council.

More than 40 Washington schools of higher learning exist across the state. They include major research universities and other Washington colleges that are two- year or four-year public state institutions. Additionally, schools in Washington State include private and religious institutions.

There are several Washington colleges with excellent national acclaim. The University of Washington in Seattle is the flagship campus of the state's university system. It is the West Coast's largest university. It has a picturesque campus located on the shores of Union Bays and Portage with a view of Mount Rainier from some parts of the campus. The campus explodes with cherry blossoms in the spring. It is a strong school both academically and athletically. Its achievements in education and research has placed it in the Association of American Universities. Excellent programs in the sciences and liberal arts earned the school a chapter of the Phi beta Kappa Honor Society. The ratio of teachers to students is exceptionally small at 11 to one.

Whitman College is often ranked as one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges. It is located in the town of Walla Walla, Washington. It is an excellent choice for those looking for both a high quality education and an engaging and intimate student life. The school was awarded a chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society for its strong liberal arts and science programs. Students in the sciences, engineering and law programs often collaborate with other top schools like Duke, Columbia, Caltech and Washington University. Whitman offers many options for studying abroad in 23 different countries. The school has an amazing 9 to one student-teacher ratio.

Economy

In 2010, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported the total gross state product(GSP)as $351.5 billion. This placed it 14th in the United States. In 2009, the per capita personal income was reported to be $52,403, or 10th in the nation. Businesses and industries significant to the state's economy include aircraft manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, aluminum production, computer software development, electronics, biotechnology, mining and lumber and wood products. Washington State is the home of Amazon.com, Nintendo of America, Microsoft, Bungie, Arena Net and T-Mobile USA. Starbucks and Jones Soda contribute to the economy as well as retailers Nordstrom, Car Toys, Costco and Eddie Bauer.

Tourism and real estate sales are also important to the economy. There is a significant amount of hydroelectric power generated in the state.

Washington is also a leading agricultural state. In 2003, the total value of the state's agricultural products was $5.79 billion, the nation's 11th highest. Total crop value was $3.8 billion, or the nation's 7th highest. The livestock and specialty product's total value was $1.5 billion, which was the nation's 26th highest. Other important cash crops for Washington are red raspberries, apples, cherries, pears, Concord grapes, carrots, potatoes, lentils and apricots. Apples are an especially important cash crop because of dry, warm summers and chilly winters that produce apples of an excellent quality and taste.

Washington is second only to California in the production of wine in the United States. In 2006, there were over 31,000 acres of vineyards in Washington. There were 120,000 short tons of grapes harvested, and exports went out to more than 40 countries world-wide from 600 wineries across the state. Most of the wine grapes are grown in the eastern half of the state with its dessert-like environment.

Excellent colleges and universities along with a diverse economy makes Washington State a strong state for students pursuing higher education.