Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington · Public · 90.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Central Washington University, a regional public in Ellensburg, scores 68 on overall ROI (Fair Value tier) - and the program-level data is even stronger than that score suggests. In-state tuition is $9,417, with out-of-state at $27,526, and average net price of $18,476 (~$73,904 over four years). Average earnings six years out are $38,900, climbing to a median $61,580 by year ten - a strong trajectory powered by Pacific Northwest tech, aerospace, and construction labor markets. The 8-year payback period is genuinely good (under the standard benchmark) and the 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio is healthy. Median debt is $19,500. The 73% three-year repayment rate is solid. CWU's standout strength is technical and applied programs: Construction Management ($97,651 four-year median, B+), Quality Control ($97,869, B+), Mechanical Engineering Tech ($84,871, B+), Chemistry (B+), and Accounting (B+) all post strong ROI grades. The school has built genuine economic value for students who select these high-ROI tracks. Liberal arts programs underperform but are bounded; the institution-wide value proposition is real for the right student.
Central Washington University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,417/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,526/yr |
| Average net price | $18,476/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $73,904 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,580 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,833 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,417/year ($27,526/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,476/year, or roughly $73,904 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,846/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,719/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,500, which works out to about $207 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,900) and comes to 0.50, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,846 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,942 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,022 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,682 |
| $110,001+ | $26,719 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $11,846 net. With Pell, Washington College Grant, and federal loans, four-year cost runs about $47,000. Strong value for low-income Washington families targeting CWU's high-ROI tracks (construction management, accounting, computer science, teacher education).
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $13,942 and $48,001-$75,000 pays $16,022 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $21,682. Across the middle range, four-year cost is roughly $56,000-$87,000. Genuinely competitive pricing, and the strong program-level ROI grades make this defensible value at every middle-income tier.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,001 pay $26,719 - still under $107,000 over four years for full-pay in-state. For out-of-state full-pay families ($27,526 sticker tuition), four-year cost runs about $134,000+, which puts CWU in competition with Oregon, Idaho, and California system options. CWU's technical-program strength gives it a real seat at that table for Construction Management and Quality Control specifically.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Central Washington University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $54,530 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $59,659 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,036 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $60,761 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $61,604 | C+ |
| Accounting | $74,442 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $47,979 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $95,368 | B |
| Sociology | $63,608 | C |
| Air Transportation | $74,997 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Construction Management
Construction Management is one of CWU's flagship programs: $81,666 first-year and $97,651 four-year median earnings against $26,999 median debt produce a 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. 31 graduates per cohort feed the booming Seattle-Tacoma construction industry plus regional builders.
Accounting
Accounting earns B+ ROI: $55,215 first-year and $74,442 four-year median earnings against just $17,650 median debt produce a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio. 115 graduates per cohort. Excellent value at CWU's price point.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is CWU's largest program at 191 graduates with $49,791 first-year and $73,036 four-year median earnings against $20,000 median debt (0.40 debt-to-earnings) - a B ROI grade. Strong outcomes for a regional-public business degree feeding Pacific Northwest corporate, finance, and operations pipelines. Genuine value at this price.
Computer Science
Computer Science earns B ROI: $52,362 first-year and $95,368 four-year median earnings against $19,467 median debt produce a 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio. 77 graduates per cohort feed Seattle-region tech employers (Microsoft, Amazon, and the broader ecosystem).
Psychology
Psychology is CWU's largest program at 274 graduates with $36,964 first-year and $54,530 four-year median earnings against $19,500 median debt (0.53 debt-to-earnings) - a C+ ROI grade. Still, like most psychology programs, real ROI requires graduate study.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Central Washington University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.6% |
| Enrollment | 7,833 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,124 |
CWU admits 91% of applicants - effectively open admission. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, fitting Washington's increasingly test-optional posture. The 54% completion rate is consistent with broad admit policy and is the weakest leg of the ROI score. Selectivity is essentially non-applicable; preparation level entering matters more than admit rate, and students targeting CWU's strong technical and business tracks see materially better completion outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Washington University (this school) | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| University of Northern Iowa | 69 | $15,901 | $55,177 |
| Ferris State University | 68 | $8,624 | $54,735 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
| Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | 63 | $19,550 | $63,435 |
| The Evergreen State College | 22 | $24,319 | $45,320 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Central Washington University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
With 7,833 students and a 28% Pell rate, CWU serves a moderately middle-income Pacific Northwest student population, with strong representation from western Washington commuting students and Yakima Valley regional draw. The fit profile: Washington students who want an affordable bachelor's degree feeding Seattle-region tech, aerospace, and construction industries. Strongest tracks by graduate count and ROI: Psychology (274 graduates, C+), Teacher Education (211, B), Business Administration (191, B), Criminal Justice (140, C+), Subject-Specific Teacher Ed (116, C+), Accounting (115, B+), Kinesiology (96, C+), Computer Science (77, B). The applied technical and business programs are where the value really lives.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Central Washington University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $18,476 a year after aid ($73,904 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $61,580 a decade out, the cost takes about 8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates.
Median debt of $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Central Washington University: Common Questions
Is Central Washington University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Central Washington University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,476 a year after aid ($73,904 over four years) against $61,580 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Central Washington University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $18,476 a year, or roughly $73,904 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Central Washington University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,580 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,780 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Central Washington University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8 years for Central Washington University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Central Washington University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $38,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Central Washington University?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.