What are some good colleges in WA?

[Blindtom]

As mentioned above - Whitman.

[yukiko11]

Based on your list of needs, I think you should get an on-line degree. I can't even imagine a college that could survive with a population of only 2000.

[StealthRabbit]

2000 is not gonna be possible (or will be VERY expensive)

If reasonable cost is a need...
I would first try WWU (Bellingham) or even their alternative program (make-your-own-degree-program)
FAIRHAVEN COLLEGE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

http://west.wwu.edu/wwu/subpage.aspx?index=12

[Smartie_Pants]

Thats because you went to a University. When the name ends with college, it has a small student body. (Usually.) Or, at least, that's what I was told when I took a tour of Rhodes College.

[Smartie_Pants]

There are lots of colleges that have less than 2,000 students and thrive perfectly well. For example:

Rhodes College (Memphis, TN)
The College of Idaho (Caldwell, ID)
Colorado College (Colorado Springs)
Whitman College (Walla Walla, WA)

[Blindtom]

Or some more:
AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE
ALLEGHENY COLLEGE
AUSTIN COLLEGE
BELOIT COLLEGE
BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN COLLEGE
CENTRE COLLEGE
CLARK UNIVERSITY
CORNELL COLLEGE
DENISON UNIVERSITY
EARLHAM COLLEGE
ECKERD COLLEGE
EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE
THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
GOUCHER COLLEGE
GUILFORD COLLEGE
HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE
HENDRIX COLLEGE
HIRAM COLLEGE
HOPE COLLEGE
JUNIATA COLLEGE
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE
KNOX COLLEGE
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY
LYNCHBURG COLLEGE
MARLBORO COLLEGE
MCDANIEL COLLEGE
MILLSAPS COLLEGE
NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
REED COLLEGE
RHODES COLLEGE
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, MD
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, NM
ST. OLAF COLLEGE
URSINUS COLLEGE
WABASH COLLEGE
WHEATON COLLEGE (IL)
WHITMAN COLLEGE
WOOSTER, COLLEGE OF

[Tiggywinkle63]

You might consider The Evergreen State College in Olympia. Not sure what the student body population is there, but waaaaay smaller than UW! Classes tend to be small; I haven't had a bad or unhelpful teacher yet; students are mostly friendly. The quality of your education depends entirely on you--even more so than in a lot of places; TESC is much different than a traditional college or university. They do have a bit of a reputation for partying--especially they have a reputation for marijuana usage--but I have never been involved in that and you don't have to be if you're not interested in it.

Caveats: Evergreen puts the "liberal" in "liberal arts" in a big way--to such an extent that you would almost expect all the buildings on campus to lean a little to the left. Having lived in rural KY all your life, the culture shock would be enormous for you. If you are conservative leaning you might feel very uncomfortable indeed. And I have heard one or two complaints from students who were devout Christians that they did not feel they or their beliefs were respected in some of their classes--but I did not notice a problem with that in any of the classes I have taken. Just something to be aware of. Evergreen also takes the "green" part very seriously--they have been recycling and encouraging other green behaviour on campus since long before it was cool. If you are independent minded, strongly motivated and capable of strong focus on your studies, you would do fine at Evergreen. There are also lots of opportunities for internships and independent contract studies, if that kind of thing appeals to you. I love it there, but it is not for everybody.