13 Washington Colleges Make Money’s 2020-21 ‘Best’ List

More than six months into the new coronavirus pandemic, colleges are struggling to resume in-person classes and, as is the case for most Washington schools, reverting to online courses only days into the new semester.

These challenges raise a question: Is a college degree today worth the actual cost?

Well, Money magazine may be able to help. The publication this week released its annual ranking of the best colleges for the money. The list, which includes 13 schools in Washington, is meant to assuage the financial anxiety associated with the high price of college in the United States.

The 2020 list includes more than 700 colleges and universities.Colleges included in Money’s rankings had to meet certain criteria, such as having a graduation rate at or above the median and having at least 500 students. Colleges were then ranked based on 26 factors in three categories: quality of education, affordability and outcomes.