Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Distant town

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington. 21,099 undergraduates. Admits 87% of applicants.

Washington colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
63%Graduation rate8 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$13,462Average net price per year32% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$72,280Median earnings 10 years after starting23% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$18,500Median debt at graduation14% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($18,500) equals 26% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($72,280).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$6,750
$30,000–$48,000$7,495
$48,001–$75,000$8,683
$75,001–$110,000$15,212
Over $110,000$24,537

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $13,888 in-state, $30,994 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate63%54%
Return for second year78%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$59,032$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$72,280$58,912
Median debt at graduation$18,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

229 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Engineering49$84,757$131,167$22,000
Computer Science181$86,200$129,678$17,853
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering92$83,445$106,374$20,537
Chemical Engineering43$80,564$105,598$23,500
Mechanical Engineering237$78,276$99,944$19,579
Civil Engineering84$74,997$94,172$19,250
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing295$88,436$93,537$19,954
Management Information Systems and Services0$66,783$92,877$18,710
Materials Engineering8$70,115$91,110—
Finance and Financial Management Services196$56,571$90,300$15,000
International Business14$49,863$90,069—
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician55$83,583—$19,500
Accounting and Related Services204$65,616$82,903$23,291
Business Administration, Management and Operations208$58,891$80,715$18,250
Economics50$57,494$80,457$25,913
Political Science and Government80$44,831$80,377$19,125
Marketing240$56,680$78,310$19,900
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services20—$77,339—
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication202$52,097$76,294$18,125
Communication and Media Studies0—$76,171—
Applied Mathematics51$54,099$75,532$21,500
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology19$41,727$75,296—
Hospitality Administration/Management140$55,059$74,638$13,500
Plant Sciences16$64,374$73,736—
Food Science and Technology9—$73,447—
Public Policy Analysis3—$71,316—
Computational Science52$71,268—$20,500
Design and Applied Arts29$55,593$69,533$19,250
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology36—$68,658$22,043
Biomedical/Medical Engineering28$66,883——
Apparel and Textiles41$44,266$66,883$18,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods188$52,243$66,493$20,500
Biology, General236$36,354$66,227$20,000
Neurobiology and Neurosciences43$36,038$64,718$18,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities79$46,389$64,570$17,421
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness56$39,450$64,555$21,500
Biological and Physical Sciences20$48,661$63,238$25,000
Agricultural Production Operations19$59,003$63,012—
Social Sciences, General228$49,327$62,796$22,500
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions16—$62,146$26,000
History59$40,561$61,668$25,953
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services108$43,157$58,964$20,002
Psychology, General531$40,678$58,464$19,736
Sociology49$39,882$57,024$23,978
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences117$42,354$56,337$18,295
Natural Resources Conservation and Research17$56,113——
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies5—$53,837—
English Language and Literature, General91$37,045$51,387$20,500
Animal Sciences87$37,882$51,334$20,000
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication126$43,145$51,328$17,732
Architectural Sciences and Technology57$49,465—$22,208
Zoology/Animal Biology39$32,712$48,618$13,370
Criminology165$46,942—$19,715
Journalism58$40,930$46,579$20,357
Music11$40,277$43,260—
Anthropology34$35,395$42,560$16,014
Genetics29$40,232——
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations41$37,221—$20,500
Philosophy7$35,222——
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences137$33,655—$18,500
Agriculture, General3———
Agricultural Business and Management7———
Agricultural and Food Products Processing2———
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services4———
Forestry9———
Computer and Information Sciences, General5———
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management109——$15,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas10———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics5———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics17———
Mathematics4———
Human Biology13———
Physical Sciences, General6———
Chemistry16———
Physics17———
Fine and Studio Arts17———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

87%Admission rate
15:1Students per faculty member
35%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in Washington

University of Washington-Bothell CampusBothell · net price $13,802 · grad rate 68%University of Washington-Tacoma CampusTacoma · net price $11,900 · grad rate 60%Heritage UniversityToppenish · net price $10,747 · grad rate 57%Eastern Washington UniversityCheney · net price $13,647 · grad rate 43%University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle · net price $13,663 · grad rate 85%Western Washington UniversityBellingham · net price $19,963 · grad rate 61%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Washington State University cost per year?
The average net price at Washington State University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $13,462 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Washington State University graduates earn?
Former Washington State University students earn a median of $72,280 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Washington State University?
63% of Washington State University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Washington State University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Washington State University is $18,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.