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Is Central Washington University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Central Washington, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Central Washington sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $61,580 helps, but median debt of $19,500 plus yearly net price of $18,476 creates a tighter path. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$18,476
Median earnings 10 years out
$61,580
Median debt at graduation
$19,500
Graduation rate
52%
At Central Washington, a typical graduate carries about $19,500 in student debt and earns roughly $61,580 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $222 per month, or 4% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Central Washington is a public four year school in Ellensburg, WA. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Bowie State
Bowie, MD
Worth-It Score: 52/100
Median net price: $19,298
Public 4-year
Alabama A & M
Normal, AL
Worth-It Score: 41/100
Median net price: $17,621
Public 4-year
Central Michigan
Mount Pleasant, MI
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $17,597
Public 4-year
Alabama State
Montgomery, AL
Worth-It Score: 26/100
Median net price: $20,435
Public 4-year
Central Connecticut State
New Britain, CT
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $16,857
Common questions about Central Washington
The median net price at Central Washington is $18,476 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →