Exempt Degree-Granting Institutions

The state’s public colleges and universities and longstanding private institutions are among those that are exempt from the general requirement that degree-granting institutions operating in Washington be authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council.  Following is the list of exempt institutions:

Public Colleges and Universities

Research

University of Washington  
   - University of Washington Bothell
   - University of Washington Tacoma

Washington State University
   - Washington State University Tri-Cities
   - Washington State University Vancouver

Comprehensive

Central Washington University
Eastern Washington University
Western Washington University
The Evergreen State College

Community and Technical

Bates Technical College
Bellevue College
Bellingham Technical College
Big Bend Community College
Cascadia Community College
Centralia College
Clark College
Clover Park Technical College
Columbia Basin College
Edmonds Community College
Everett Community College
Grays Harbor College
Green River Community College
Highline Community College
Lake Washington Technical College
Lower Columbia College
North Seattle Community College
Olympic College
Peninsula College
Pierce College - Fort Steilacoom
Pierce College - Puyallup
Renton Technical College
Seattle Central Community College
Shoreline Community College
Skagit Valley College
South Puget Sound Community College
South Seattle Community College
Spokane Community College
Spokane Falls Community College
Tacoma Community College
Walla Walla Community College
Wenatchee Valley College
Whatcom Community College
Yakima Valley Community College

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
DigiPen Institute of Technology
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 College

Religious Exempt Colleges and Seminaries

Offer degree programs or credit-bearing courses of a strictly religious nature. The exemption applies only to the programs, locations or activities for which the institutions requested exemption. They must report every two years to retain this exemption.

Armour Bible College and Armour Seminary
Ascension Theological College
Beacon Institute of Ministry
Bishop A.L. Hardy Academy of Theology
Calvary Chapel Bible College-Seattle
Calvary Chapel Bible College–Tri-Cities
Canby Bible College
Cascadia Northwest Bible College
Central Baptist Theological Seminary
Champions Centre College
College for Global Deployment
Columbia Evangelical Seminary
Corban University
Covenant Bible Seminary
Evergreen Christian University
First Christian Seminary
Freedom Covenant Seminary
Horizon College of Ministry
HUMUH Transcendental Awareness Institute
imago Dei Institute/Cascade Bible College
International College of Metaphysical Theology
International Graduate School of Ministry
KAES Bible College & Seminary
KPCA Northwest Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Life Ministry Institute
Living Faith Fellowship College of Ministry
Missio Dei Learning Community
New Hope Christian College
North Park Theological Seminary
Northwest Theological Seminary
Pacific Theological Seminary
Portland Bible College
Renewed Life Seminary
School of the Apostolic Church
School of Prophetic Arts
Seattle Bible College
Seattle Theological Seminary
Seattle Urban Bible College
Shepherds Bible College
Sound Baptist Bible College
Tacoma Bible College
Triune Biblical University
United Theological Seminary and Bible College
University of Christian Studies and Seminary
Victory Bible Training Center
Washington College and International Seminary
Washington Seminary
Western Reformed Seminary
Wisdom Bible Institute
Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary
Worship Arts Conservatory

Conditionally Exempt Institutions

Offer degree programs or courses exclusively to federal employees and their dependents at military bases or other federal sites. The Washington Student Achievement Council may review an exemption every two years.

Baylor University
Vincennes University

Conditional Waiver Institutions

Granted in rare circumstances to institutions with very limited educational offerings.  The Washington Student Achievement Council may review the waiver every two years.

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

Foreign Degree-granting Branch Campuses

Foreign-based institutions offering limited courses in Washington state.  The Washington Student Achievement Council reviews these institutions every two years.

Mukogawa Ft. Wright Institute
Trajal Hospitality & Tourism College