Washington Colleges & Universities: Find a Degree Program

The state of Washington prides itself on its spectacular outdoors, which visitors and residents can enjoy year-round. Home to Mount Rainier, the Cascade Mountains, the Columbia River Gorge, Puget Sound, and the Lewis & Clark Trail, Washington offers skiing, hiking, and kayaking among a wide variety of other outdoor recreation activities.

In contrast to its natural wonders, Washington boasts lively major metropolitan areas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Washington's largest cities are Seattle, Olympia, Spokane, and Tacoma. According to a 2006 estimate, over 6.3 million people call the state home. Its largest city, Seattle, is famous for its Space Needle, which was built for the 1962 World's Fair. Seattle is also home to the nationally-known Starbucks coffee company and for Pike Place Market, where you can sample flavorful fresh seafood and produce in a lively open-air market.

Washington's employment outlook appears to be strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary for Washingtonians is $42,910. The Seattle-King County area, in particular, is the state's business hub. Leading innovators and well-recognized firms include Boeing, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Costco, and Washington Mutual.

Major industries in Washington include commercial aerospace, clean technologies, biotechnology, and information technology. According the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, one in three jobs in Washington state support trade-related jobs due to the region's proximity to the Pacific Rim.

Sources:

• U.S. Census Bureau
• City of Seattle
• Washington State Tourism
• Seattle Chamber of Commerce
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics