Washington State University
Pullman, Washington · Public · 86.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 84/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Washington State University earns an 84 ROI score as a large public university with 21,099 undergraduates in Pullman, Washington. In-state tuition is $13,391, and the average net price is $14,971. The main concern is completion: only 60.5% of students finish within 150% of expected time. Earnings reach $44,700 six years out and $68,905 at ten years. Payback period is 5.9 years. About 27% of students receive Pell grants. The school's strength is in engineering, nursing, and agriculture - programs tied to Washington State's wheat-growing economy and Pacific Northwest industries. Computer Engineering (87K starting) and Registered Nursing (84K starting) lead the earnings table. The 82.2% repayment rate at three years is solid. The low completion rate is the key risk factor: students who leave without a degree carry debt without the credential.
Washington State University scores in the top 10% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Washington State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,391/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,950/yr |
| Average net price | $14,971/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $59,884 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,905 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 21,099 |
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: $13,391/year ($29,950/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 $14,971/year, or roughly $59,884 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 $7,074/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,726/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 ($44,700) and comes to 0.44, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $7,074 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,971 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,519 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,426 |
| $110,001+ | $24,726 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $7,074 per year at WSU - about $28,300 for four years. As a public university, WSU benefits from state funding and federal aid availability. This is an affordable option for Washington State residents from low-income families, particularly for students targeting nursing or engineering. The risk is the 60.5% completion rate - students who do not finish face debt without the earnings premium.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $8,971 per year, and the 48-75k bracket pays $11,519. The slope is gradual across this range. The 75-110k bracket jumps to $18,426. For middle-income Washington State residents, WSU offers accessible pricing with strong program options in technical fields. The total net cost for a middle-income family runs $36,000 to $74,000 for four years - reasonable for an engineering degree.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $24,726 per year at WSU - still below out-of-state tuition of $29,950. For Washington residents, $24,726 per year for a school that sends graduates to Seattle tech companies is a reasonable deal.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Washington State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $56,681 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $91,495 | B+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $67,647 | B |
| Biology | $60,418 | C |
| Social Sciences, General | $61,617 | C |
| Marketing | $76,595 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $93,971 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $61,304 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $81,321 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $86,012 | B+ |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is WSU's largest program in terms of graduate count (351) and shows $83,894 one-year earnings and $91,495 at four years, with a 0.256 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. Washington State has consistently growing healthcare infrastructure, and BSN-prepared nurses are prioritized by hospital systems. The 0.256 debt ratio reflects manageable borrowing against strong starting salaries. With 351 graduates per year, this is a high-volume program with consistent placement.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (36 graduates) shows $87,135 one-year earnings and $114,635 at four years, with a 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. Starting at $87K is competitive for a public university in a state that borders the Pacific Northwest tech corridor. Many WSU CE graduates end up at Seattle-area technology companies - Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, and their supply chains actively recruit from WSU. The 0.25 debt ratio is good. The relatively small class size (36 graduates) means the job placement rate is likely high.
Computer Science
Computer Science (193 graduates) shows $79,519 one-year earnings and $119,686 at four years, with a 0.282 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. With 193 graduates, this is a large pipeline and starting at $79.5K is strong for an in-state public school. The Seattle tech market draws WSU CS graduates north. The 0.282 debt ratio is acceptable. Four-year earnings near $120K indicate consistent advancement into senior engineering roles.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (221 graduates) shows $72,690 one-year earnings and $93,971 at four years, with a 0.289 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. Starting at $72.7K on $13,391 in-state tuition creates a very favorable return on investment at the program level. The 0.289 debt ratio reflects that engineering students borrow modestly relative to their earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Washington State 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 | 86.6% |
| Enrollment | 21,099 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,233 |
WSU does not report selectivity data beyond its 86.6% admission rate. It is an open-access public university for most applicants. No SAT/ACT ranges are available in this data set.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington State University (this school) | 84 | $14,971 | $68,905 |
| George Mason University | 86 | $17,915 | $76,343 |
| University of Utah | 84 | $16,200 | $67,170 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | 80 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| Central Washington University | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Washington State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
WSU does not report SAT/ACT ranges in this data. The 86.6% admission rate means it is accessible. About 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who come with a clear program goal in engineering, nursing, or agricultural sciences find solid infrastructure. Students who are undecided or enrolled in lower-earnings majors face completion and debt risk.
Transfer Pathways
As Washington State's flagship land-grant university, WSU has established transfer pathways from Washington community colleges. Students who complete an associate degree in Washington can transfer with guaranteed admission to many programs. The high admission rate and large enrollment make WSU a practical transfer destination for community college students in the state.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Washington State University pays off. You'd pay about $14,971 a year after aid ($59,884 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $68,905 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44, 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.
Washington State University: Common Questions
Is Washington State University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Washington State University pays off. It scores 84/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $14,971 a year after aid ($59,884 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $68,905 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.9 years to earn back.
How much does Washington State 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 $14,971 a year, or roughly $59,884 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 Washington State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $68,905 ten years after enrolling, roughly $27,105 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 Washington State 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 5.9 years for Washington State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Washington State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $44,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. 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 Washington State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.5%. 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.