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Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington

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2023 Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington

Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

12 Schools Ranked
$13,387 Avg Tuition & Fees*

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which computer science program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Computer Science Degree Search has created its Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington ranking. Our analysis looked at 12 schools in Washington to see which basic certificate programs offered the best value experiences for computer science students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

Top Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Bellevue College

Bellevue, Washington
25 Total Awards
$9,594 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Bellevue College to be the best value school for computer science students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Washington. BC is located in Bellevue, Washington and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 basic certificates to qualified students.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BC are $9,594 per year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at BC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.

BC also took the #2 spot in our Best Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington rankings.

Read full report on Bellevue College

24 Total Awards
$10,146 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lake Washington Institute of Technology. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington list. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a small public school located in Kirkland, Washington that handed out 24 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LWTech are $10,146 a year.

Some students may be able to take online classes at LWTech. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

LWTech also made our Best Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington list, coming in at #3.

Full Lake Washington Institute of Technology Report

#3

North Seattle College

Seattle, Washington
20 Total Awards
$4,799 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend North Seattle College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington list. Located in Seattle, Washington, the small public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Seattle are $4,799 a year.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since North Seattle does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

North Seattle not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington list.

Full North Seattle College Report

#4

Spokane Community College

Spokane, Washington
80 Total Awards
$5,135 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Spokane Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value computer science schools in Washington. Spokane Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Spokane, Washington. It awarded 80 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Spokane Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,135 in tuition and fees each year.

Spokane Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Spokane Community College

#5

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington
272 Total Awards
$5,740 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent basic certificate programs at Clover Park Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value computer science schools in Washington. Clover Park Technical College is a small public school located in Lakewood, Washington that handed out 272 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CPTC are $5,740 a year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at CPTC. In fact, around 35% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Clover Park Technical College

#6

Tacoma Community College

Tacoma, Washington
95 Total Awards
$10,391 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Tacoma Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for computer science students working on their basic certificate. Tacoma Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Tacoma, Washington. It awarded 95 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Tacoma Community College are $10,391 a year.

Tacoma Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Tacoma Community College Report

#7

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington
4 Total Awards
$25,930 Average Tuition & Fees

Western Washington University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington list. Bellingham, Washington is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 4 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at WWU are $25,930 a year.

WWU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 6% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

WWU also took the #4 spot in our Best Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington rankings.

Read More…

#8

Clark College

Vancouver, Washington
7 Total Awards
$10,133 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Clark College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for computer science students working on their basic certificate. This medium-sized public school is located in Vancouver, Washington, and it awarded 7 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Clark College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,133 in tuition and fees each year.

Clark College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 97% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#9

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington
1 Total Awards
$25,213 Average Tuition & Fees

Central Washington University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington ranking. CWU is located in Ellensburg, Washington and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 basic certificates to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CWU are $25,213 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CWU. In fact, around 98% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Central Washington University Report

#10

Columbia Basin College

Pasco, Washington
3 Total Awards
$7,735 Average Tuition & Fees

Columbia Basin College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in Washington ranking. Pasco, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 3 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CBC are $7,735 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CBC. In fact, around 89% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#11

Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, Washington
21 Total Awards
$5,135 Average Tuition & Fees

Spokane Falls Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate computer science programs. Located in Spokane, Washington, the small public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Spokane Falls Community College are $5,135 per year.

Spokane Falls Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 89% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#12

Saint Martin's University

Lacey, Washington
153 Total Awards
$40,690 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Saint Martin’s University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for computer science students working on their basic certificate. Saint Martin’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lacey, Washington. It awarded 153 basic certificates in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Saint Martin’s are $40,690 per year.

Online courses are available at Saint Martin’s, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 34% took at least some of their classes online.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Saint Martin’s is ranked #1 for overall quality in Washington.

Read full report on Saint Martin’s University

Best Value Computer Science Basic Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 12 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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