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State Overview

Colleges in Washington: 19 Ranked by Earnings, Tuition & Graduation Rate

Every college in Washington with verified College Scorecard data, ranked three ways below: by graduate earnings, by in-state tuition and by graduation rate. 28 institutions in total.

Institutions

28

Avg In-State Tuition

$28,239

Avg Out-of-State

$35,154

Avg Earnings

$51,762

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Quick answer

According to College Scorecard data on CollegeFactbook.com, Washington has 28 degree-granting colleges and universities with average in-state tuition of $28,239 and average graduate earnings of $51,762 ten years after entry.

State Overview

Washington state has 28 higher education institutions. The average in-state tuition is $28,238.62, while the average out-of-state tuition is $35,154.15. Graduates from these institutions earn an average of $51,762.35.

These figures suggest a significant investment in education within Washington. The difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition indicates a financial incentive for Washington residents. The average graduate earnings suggest a positive return on investment for students.

Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data

Schools by Type

Popular Majors in Washington

Business Administration, Management and Operations

3,437 graduates

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

1,849 graduates

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

1,753 graduates

Psychology, General

1,700 graduates

Computer and Information Sciences, General

1,623 graduates

Communication and Media Studies

1,287 graduates

Accounting and Related Services

1,236 graduates

Biology, General

1,223 graduates

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

997 graduates

Political Science and Government

974 graduates

Mechanical Engineering

902 graduates

Finance and Financial Management Services

883 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations Salary Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Salary Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Salary

Cost Comparison

WA Avg In-State $28,239
WA Avg Out-of-State $35,154

Cost Analysis

Washington's average in-state tuition of $28,239 compares to an average out-of-state tuition of $35,154. The average graduate from a Washington institution earns $51,762 within 5 years of graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 28 colleges and universities in Washington, including public, private non-profit, and for-profit institutions.

Best Colleges in Washington, Ranked by Data

Three orderings of the same 19 colleges, straight from College Scorecard: who earns most after graduating, who charges least in-state, and who graduates the largest share. No editorial weighting.

Best colleges in Washington by graduate earnings

  1. 1 Gonzaga University $66,525 median, 5 yrs · Spokane
  2. 2 Seattle University $64,656 median, 5 yrs · Seattle
  3. 3 University of Washington-Seattle Campus $62,979 median, 5 yrs · Seattle
  4. 4 University of Washington-Bothell Campus $62,979 median, 5 yrs · Bothell
  5. 5 University of Washington-Tacoma Campus $62,979 median, 5 yrs · Tacoma
  6. 6 DigiPen Institute of Technology $58,771 median, 5 yrs · Redmond
  7. 7 Saint Martin's University $57,998 median, 5 yrs · Lacey
  8. 8 Washington State University $53,510 median, 5 yrs · Pullman
  9. 9 Pacific Lutheran University $52,212 median, 5 yrs · Tacoma
  10. 10 Seattle Pacific University $51,496 median, 5 yrs · Seattle

Cheapest colleges in Washington by in-state tuition

  1. 1 Eastern Washington University $8,353 / year · Cheney
  2. 2 The Evergreen State College $8,999 / year · Olympia
  3. 3 Central Washington University $9,192 / year · Ellensburg
  4. 4 Western Washington University $9,286 / year · Bellingham
  5. 5 University of Washington-Bothell Campus $12,559 / year · Bothell
  6. 6 University of Washington-Seattle Campus $12,643 / year · Seattle
  7. 7 University of Washington-Tacoma Campus $12,817 / year · Tacoma
  8. 8 Washington State University $12,997 / year · Pullman
  9. 9 Northwest College of Art & Design $18,100 / year · Tacoma
  10. 10 Northwest University $36,035 / year · Kirkland

Best colleges in Washington by graduation rate

  1. 1 Gonzaga University 88 % graduate · Spokane
  2. 2 Whitman College 86 % graduate · Walla Walla
  3. 3 University of Washington-Seattle Campus 84 % graduate · Seattle
  4. 4 Seattle University 74 % graduate · Seattle
  5. 5 University of Puget Sound 72 % graduate · Tacoma
  6. 6 Whitworth University 72 % graduate · Spokane
  7. 7 Pacific Lutheran University 71 % graduate · Tacoma
  8. 8 University of Washington-Bothell Campus 69 % graduate · Bothell
  9. 9 Northwest University 66 % graduate · Kirkland
  10. 10 Western Washington University 66 % graduate · Bellingham

National rankings: highest earning · most affordable · best graduation rate · best ROI.