The Evergreen State College
Olympia, Washington · Public · 96.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 22/100 · Poor Value
The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington scores 22 in the Poor Value tier -- a result that reflects the structural mismatch between Evergreen's distinctive academic philosophy and a financial-outcome scoring framework. The school is famously interdisciplinary, narrative-evaluation-only (no traditional grades), and oriented toward self-directed learning rather than career credentialing. Tuition in-state is $9,264 (out-of-state $31,905), but the net price after aid jumps to $24,319, well above tuition because of substantial room/board and fee components. Four-year cost is $97,276. The earnings outcomes are weak: median $28,400 at six years rising to just $45,320 at ten -- the typical pattern of liberal-arts-only graduates without specialized professional credentials. The 23-year payback period and 0.722 debt-to-earnings ratio against $20,500 of median debt are dire. Completion at 40.7% is among the worst in the public-university dataset. Repayment at 60.4% is weak. Evergreen has a real and respected role in American higher ed for students who want self-directed liberal arts -- but on financial-outcome metrics, the data is grim.
The data raises concerns about The Evergreen State College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score22/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period23 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
The Evergreen State College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,264/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,905/yr |
| Average net price | $24,319/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $97,276 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,320 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 23 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 40.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,160 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at The Evergreen State College is $9,264/year ($31,905/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,319/year, or roughly $97,276 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $22,079/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,477/year.
The median graduate leaves with $20,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $217 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,320 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.72 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $22,079 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,607 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,723 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,346 |
| $110,001+ | $28,477 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $22,079 net per year -- steep for low-income households. Pell ($7,395 max) and Washington College Grant aid stack here, but the actual out-of-pocket remains high. Across four years the $88K total is significant for any low-income family, and combined with the 40.7% completion rate, the modal outcome is borrowed money and no degree. Low-income Washington students should look hard at WWU, Central, or community college pathways instead.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Brackets behave normally: $30,001-$48,000 pays $22,607, $48,001-$75,000 pays $25,723, $75,001-$110,000 pays $27,346. Middle-income families face $90K-$109K over four years for a school with 41% completion and $28K six-year median earnings. The math is poor regardless of bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $28,477. At $114K over four years for outcomes that lag every other Washington public, this only makes sense for families specifically committed to Evergreen's unique academic model and not optimizing for financial value. Most high-income families would extract better outcomes from any other Washington public university.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at The Evergreen State College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $42,219 | D |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | $48,623 | D |
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.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts is by far Evergreen's largest program -- 363 graduates per year, reflecting the school's interdisciplinary structure where most students end up classified under this CIP code. Earnings of $26,328 first-year and $42,219 four-year against $21,354 debt yield a 0.811 debt-to-earnings ratio and D grade. The slow earnings ramp into year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing in nonprofit, education, and government roles, but the early years are very tough financially. Students entering this program need a clear plan for graduate school or a specific career pathway.
Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies (95 graduates) shows $27,555 first-year and $48,623 four-year earnings against $22,346 debt -- a 0.811 ratio and D grade. The four-year earnings ramp is meaningful (76% growth) and signals that graduates do build careers, often in environmental, education, and creative-class sectors. But the debt load relative to entry-level earnings is heavy, and Evergreen's lack of traditional credentialing makes job-market entry harder than at conventional publics. Students choosing this program need to be deliberate about portfolio-building, internships, and post-graduation pathways.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 60.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 495-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-663 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-29 |
| Enrollment | 2,160 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,212 |
Evergreen admits 96.4% of applicants -- effectively unconditional admission. SAT mid-50% bands run Math 495-590 and Reading 540-663; ACT 23-29. The Reading 25th-percentile of 540 is high relative to the very-loose acceptance rate, suggesting the applicant pool self-selects toward verbal-strong students drawn to the experimental academic model. The 40.7% completion rate signals that even self-selected students often don't finish at Evergreen -- the unstructured curriculum that draws students also fails to retain many of them through degree completion.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among peers, Evergreen sits at the bottom. Central Washington University and Eastern Washington University are conventional Washington publics with materially better outcomes -- both deliver mid-tier ROI scores while Evergreen lands at 22. Shawnee State University in Ohio is a similar small regional public with weak outcomes. Cameron University (Oklahoma) and University of Guam are different geographic and demographic profiles. Within the Washington public system, Evergreen is by a wide margin the weakest ROI option; UW-Seattle, WSU, and even Western Washington substantially outperform.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Evergreen State College (this school) | 22 | $24,319 | $45,320 |
| Central Washington University | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
| Cameron University | 20 | $10,912 | $40,118 |
| University of Guam | 20 | $8,598 | $35,946 |
| Shawnee State University | 18 | $14,381 | $39,596 |
Who Thrives Here
Evergreen fits a very specific student: someone who explicitly rejects traditional grading and discipline-based majors, wants to design their own academic program, and is willing to forego career-track credentials in pursuit of intellectual self-direction. Enrollment of 2,160 with a 41.6% Pell rate signals a distinctive student body that's both heterogeneous and ideologically self-selected. The school does have a small but real pipeline into environmental nonprofits, education, and graduate school for students who finish strong. But on a financial-outcome basis, the data does not support attendance for students optimizing for career or earnings.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about The Evergreen State College. With a net cost of $24,319 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,320 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 23 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 40.7% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,500 against $45,320 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.