Address: 1400 NE Campus Parkway, 98195 Seattle, Washington, United States
Medicine, Computer Science, Engineering
Established in 1861, the University of Washington is a large public research university in Seattle, with additional campuses in Tacoma and Bothell. It is highly regarded for its programs in medicine, computer science, engineering, and public health.
The University of Washington opened in 1861 in Seattle, when the town had only a few thousand inhabitants and the territory had not yet become a state. The first building stood on a site in what is now downtown, and in 1895 the university moved to its present campus between Lake Washington and Lake Union, a wooded area with views of Mount Rainier. It has about 60,500 students, counting the Tacoma and Bothell campuses, and 16,000 staff. The Drumheller Fountain and the Quad with its cherry trees are the best-known sights.
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909 took place on the grounds and left several buildings and the layout of the central axis. Suzzallo Library, in Collegiate Gothic style, has a reading room often compared to a cathedral. The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering is among the most important in the country, and the university has close links with Microsoft, Amazon and Boeing in the region.
Medicine and the life sciences are the heart of the research effort. UW Medicine, with Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington Medical Center, treats patients across the Pacific Northwest, and the school of public health, the school of pharmacy and the school of nursing add to this. The Applied Physics Laboratory studies the ocean and the Arctic. The oceanography and atmospheric sciences programmes work with agencies on climate and weather.
Rowing is a point of pride. The 1936 Olympic crew from the university, the group described in the book The Boys in the Boat, won the gold medal in Berlin. The Huskies play at Husky Stadium on the shore of Lake Washington, and a light rail station opened there, giving direct links to downtown and the airport. Admission is by application, and tuition is higher for non-residents and international students. Check the current tariff. Teaching is in English, and the university uses the quarter system.
Seattle is a city with high housing costs, and many students live in the University District.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Bioengineering, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Marine Science, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Flagship university in Washington state. Major recipient of federal research funding (often #1 among US public universities). Strong partnerships with Seattle’s tech industry (e.g., Microsoft, Amazon) and healthcare sector. Member of AAU.
Research:
A leading global research university with exceptional strengths in medicine, computer science (AI, data science, HCI), bioengineering, environmental science, and global health. Very high research activity.
Famous Alumnis:
Bill Gates Sr., Joe Sutter, Kenny G, Hope Solo, Bruce Lee (attended), Dawn Wells
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
16200
Current students***:
60500
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
405000
Pros
Top-ranked public university, particularly strong in medicine and computer science, major research institution, located in a thriving tech hub (Seattle), beautiful main campus.
Cons
Very large student population, highly competitive for some programs (especially CS and Engineering), Seattle can be expensive, rainy weather.
Best For
Students seeking a world-class public education and research opportunities, especially in medicine, computer science, or engineering, in a major Pacific Northwest tech city with a strong innovation ecosystem.
On content, University of California, San Diego and this institution are close, as both teach marine science, bioengineering and life sciences; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and is slightly smaller, at about 43,200 students against roughly 60,500 here.
Another national school that puts life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning at the centre is University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
Also strong in marine science, life sciences and data analytics, University of South Florida makes a sensible second look at home; it is slightly smaller, at about 50,000 students against roughly 60,500 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Pittsburgh is the closest domestic counterpart for bioengineering, life sciences and data analytics; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
Both schools build their programmes around bioengineering, life sciences and data analytics, and Boston University is the one to compare first within the country, since it is private, whereas this institution is public, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
The University of Edinburgh brings a the United Kingdom setting to the same core fields, life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and covers robotics and physics as well.
University College London in the United Kingdom is the nearest foreign match on life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes.
For a study option in Canada with a comparable spread of life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning, University of Toronto is the reference point: it covers chemistry and physics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 97,500 students against roughly 60,500 here.
Abroad, Shenzhen University (China) covers marine science, life sciences and data analytics in a comparable way, and it is slightly smaller, at about 48,865 students against roughly 60,500 here, and is also a public institution.
Beyond national borders, University College Dublin stands out as a comparable school for bioengineering, life sciences and data analytics; it runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes, and covers agriculture and food science as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the University of Washington?
In Seattle, Washington, between Lake Washington and Lake Union.
When did it open?
In 1861, and it moved to its present campus in 1895.
How large is it?
About 60,500 students, counting the Tacoma and Bothell campuses, and 16,000 staff.
What is the Allen School?
The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, one of the most important in the country.
What happened on the campus in 1909?
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, which left several buildings and the layout of the central axis.
What is UW Medicine?
The university's medical system, including Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington Medical Center.
What is the Applied Physics Laboratory?
A laboratory that studies the ocean and the Arctic.
What did the 1936 crew do?
It won the Olympic gold medal in rowing in Berlin.
How do you reach the campus?
By light rail, which has a station at Husky Stadium.
What does it cost?
Tuition is higher for non-residents and international students. Check the current tariff.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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