College Corner

A college right in your backyard (or just a road trip away)

From Bellingham to Vancouver, and from Tacoma to Pullman, the four-year public universities offer exciting options throughout our state.

What do you mean by “the four-year publics?”student and dog campus picture

The four-year publics are colleges and universities supported by the state that offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees. UW and WSU also offer doctoral and professional degrees.

They vary tremendously in size (think Evergreen vs. the Seattle campus of the UW), and location (downtown Tacoma vs. the cattle ranches near Ellensburg).

They offer different majors and campus activities, but what all share is a belief that everyone in our state should have access to education.

Did you know:

  • The average annual earnings of a person holding a bachelor's degree is more than $50,000? With only a high school diploma, the average annual earnings is only $32,000. That's nearly $20,000 more!
  • You might be able to take the SAT for Free. There's a waiver system for those who qualify! To learn more, see the 2011-12 Fee Waivers for SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™
  • All universities have admissions counselors to answer your questions.  And, they have campus visit programs to welcome ou when you arrive.

I’m really not ready to choose a college yet. How can I keep my options open?

1)  Choose the high school classes suggested under BETTER! or BEST!!!  The Better! column provides the minimum requirements for admission to four-year publics. 

2)  Take the SAT or ACT.  You may decide to start at a community college and transfer to one of the four-year publics; or you may choose a school that doesn’t require the SAT or ACT.  That’s just fine. 

For now, it’s important not to close any doors too early. These tests are used not only in admissions, but also for awarding some scholarships.

So what else can I do right now? 

1) Keep the conversation going. Talk to friends, family, counselors. Are you drawn to the urban vibe or a college town? Is there a unique major or residential experience you’re excited about?

2) Start exploring on the web to find out what each school has to offer. You may want to sign up on the mailing list of schools that interest you based on your first research. You’ll get to know about them, and they’ll learn more about you.

3) When you’re ready, visit campuses. Some may be close by. Six hours is the farthest you would have to drive to get to a university in Washington – take a road trip! The information you gather about them will empower you to make an informed choice.

Glossary of terms used in this article

Major - A subject you study in depth in college. Some you may have heard of, like psychology, business, or art.  Others may be more unusual, like forensic science or comparative ethnic studies.

SAT and ACT are the most widely used college admissions tests in the U.S. All four-year public college/universities accept both tests equally.