Cost of college in Washington
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Washington averages $8,405 a year, or $12,365 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $57,744 and owe about $14,658. The net price pays back in about 3.1 years.
How Washington compares to the US
Washington ranks #39 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #20 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #8 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Washington | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $8,405 | $9,518 | -$1,113 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $21,074 | $23,652 | -$2,578 |
| Net price after aid | $12,365 | $13,788 | -$1,423 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $57,744 | $56,427 | +$1,317 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,658 | $17,856 | -$3,198 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Washington pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Washington costs about $49,460 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.1 years from the roughly $15,944-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #8 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Washington list about $50,072 in tuition and net out to about $29,769 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Washington?
At a public 4-year college in Washington, in-state tuition and fees average about $8,405 a year and out-of-state runs about $21,074. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $12,365. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Washington earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Washington's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $57,744 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $14,658 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Washington?
A public 4-year degree in Washington costs about $49,460 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.1 years from the roughly $15,944-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.