Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington · Public · 90.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Eastern Washington University scores 66 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale, reflecting a school with an accessible price point but a completion challenge that holds back what the earnings data could otherwise support. Average 6-year earnings are $37,700, a 41.2% premium above the no-college benchmark, and in-state tuition of $8,586 keeps the headline cost low. The completion rate of 43.5% is the defining constraint: fewer than half of enrolled students graduate, and this depresses the overall ROI score significantly. Among the programs with the strongest outcomes, Engineering Technologies (44 graduates, $70,789 year-one, B-grade) and Dental Support Services (46 graduates, $67,984 year-one, $75,533 year-four, B-grade) stand out alongside Computer and Information Sciences (77 graduates, $67,004 year-one, $95,817 year-four, B-grade). Accounting (65 graduates, $52,665 year-one, $75,927 year-four, B+ grade) is the standout ROI case in business. Teacher Education (127 graduates) is the largest program by volume, which partly explains the lower overall earnings median.
Eastern Washington University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,586/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,959/yr |
| Average net price | $13,886/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $55,544 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,897 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,222 |
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: $8,586/year ($25,959/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 $13,886/year, or roughly $55,544 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 $9,547/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,279/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 ($37,700) and comes to 0.52, 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 | $9,547 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,204 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,292 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,596 |
| $110,001+ | $22,279 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $9,547 net price per year at EWU; the 30001-48000 bracket is $10,204. At these levels, a four-year degree costs approximately $38,000-$41,000 net. Against average earnings of $37,700 and debt of $19,500, the payback of 8.5 years holds for students who complete their degree. The 43.5% completion rate is the central risk: non-completers incur debt without the credential, which explains the 74.2% repayment rate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $12,292 per year; the 75001-110000 bracket climbs to $17,596. Four-year net costs in these brackets run approximately $49,000-$70,000. Against average earnings of $37,700, the payback stretches beyond 8 years unless the student is in a higher-earning program. Middle-income families should look carefully at program-level outcomes: CS, Engineering Tech, and Dental Support Services all clear $67,000 year-one, while Teacher Education and Psychology sit well below the institutional median. Program selection is the single largest determinant of whether EWU delivers strong financial value.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Full-pay families (110000+) pay $22,279 per year at EWU, or roughly $89,000 over four years. At out-of-state tuition ($25,959), the cost picture changes significantly. For Washington residents, the full-pay cost of $89,000 against the top-program earnings ceiling (CS at $95,817 year-four, Engineering Tech at $70,789 year-one) is a reasonable proposition. For lower-earning programs, the financial case at full pay is weaker and families should evaluate carefully.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Eastern Washington University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $57,915 | C+ |
| Psychology | $50,125 | C |
| Biology | $56,083 | C |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $60,556 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,503 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $95,817 | B |
| Accounting | $75,927 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,969 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $66,710 | B |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $56,507 | 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.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (77 graduates) is EWU's strongest computing program: $67,004 year-one earnings, $95,817 at year four, B-grade ROI with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.386. Median debt is $25,868. CS graduates from EWU compete for technology positions in the Spokane metro and increasingly in the remote-work national market. The four-year trajectory to nearly $96,000 is the highest at EWU and reflects durable demand for software developers and IT professionals. For in-state students at $8,586 tuition, the return on a CS degree from EWU is a good public university proposition.
Dental Support Services
Dental Support Services (46 graduates) earns $67,984 year-one and $75,533 at year four, with a B-grade ROI and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.368. Median debt is $25,000. The year-one earnings of nearly $68,000 are unusually high for a health support field and reflect the specialized credential premium in dental care.
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
Engineering Technologies (44 graduates) earns $70,789 year-one with a B-grade ROI and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.363. Median debt is $25,666. Year-four data is not available. The year-one figure is the highest among programs with full first-year data at EWU and reflects strong employer demand for applied engineering technologists in manufacturing, utilities, and infrastructure sectors. The Spokane and eastern Washington region's industrial base provides a natural employment market for EWU engineering technology graduates.
Accounting
Accounting (65 graduates) earns $52,665 year-one and $75,927 at year four, with a B+ ROI grade - the strongest grade in EWU's business division. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.342 and median debt of $18,000 are both notably low, making this the best debt-adjusted ROI among EWU's larger programs. Accounting graduates enter regional public accounting firms, corporate finance, and government roles with competitive starting wages. The B+ grade reflects the favorable ratio of modest debt to solid earnings, not just absolute earnings level.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific is EWU's largest program at 127 graduates, with $41,914 year-one and $57,915 at year four, C+ grade ROI, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.549. Median debt is $23,009. EWU is a major teacher preparation pipeline for eastern Washington schools, where educator shortages are significant. The year-four progression toward $58,000 reflects teacher pay scales including experience steps, and some districts offer loan forgiveness for shortage-area teachers that would improve the effective financial picture. The high volume in this program is a direct driver of EWU's lower overall earnings median.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Eastern 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 | 90.8% |
| Enrollment | 6,222 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,643 |
At 90.8%, EWU operates as an open-access regional university. No test score ranges are reported. The net price for the lowest income bracket is $9,547 per year, making four-year attendance approximately $38,000 for the lowest-income families - an accessible figure. In-state tuition of $8,586 is the primary cost lever. Students should evaluate EWU's academic support resources and their own readiness before enrolling, given the completion rate, which is the most important financial risk factor at this institution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
EWU's profile includes its size, its geographic market in eastern Washington and the Spokane metro, and its teacher education pipeline.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington University (this school) | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake | 69 | $15,563 | $59,004 |
| Central Washington University | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | 67 | $17,490 | $58,084 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 61 | $13,369 | $52,528 |
| The Evergreen State College | 22 | $24,319 | $45,320 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Eastern Washington University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
EWU admits 90.8% of applicants and enrolls 6,222 undergraduates. No SAT or ACT data is reported in the Scorecard. Pell grant rate of 35.1% signals meaningful access for lower-income students. The school serves primarily eastern Washington residents. Students in education, health sciences, computing, and social services represent the core enrollment. The 43.5% completion rate warrants a direct conversation with the institution about persistence support before enrolling.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Eastern Washington University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $13,886 a year after aid ($55,544 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $57,897 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 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. What to keep an eye on: its 43.5% graduation rate.
Median debt of $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, 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.
Eastern Washington University: Common Questions
Is Eastern Washington University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Eastern Washington University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 66/100 on our ROI scale. At $13,886 a year after aid ($55,544 over four years) against $57,897 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Eastern 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 $13,886 a year, or roughly $55,544 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 Eastern Washington University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,897 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,097 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 Eastern 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 8.5 years for Eastern Washington University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Eastern Washington University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $37,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. 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 Eastern Washington University?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.5%. 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.