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Is Washington State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Washington State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Washington State lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $19,500 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $68,905, but the margin is not huge. For context, Washington State's net price runs about 38% above the typical 4-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$18,155
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $5,001 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $20,000 in extra cost.
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
$14,971
Median earnings 10 years out
$68,905
Median debt at graduation
$19,500
Graduation rate
61%
At Washington State, a typical graduate carries about $19,500 in student debt and earns roughly $68,905 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
Washington State is a public four year school in Pullman, 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
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA
Worth-It Score: 87/100
Median net price: $14,091
Public 4-year
Eastern Washington
Cheney, WA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $13,886
Public 4-year
Central Washington
Ellensburg, WA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $18,476
Public 4-year
Western Washington
Bellingham, WA
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $21,193
Public 4-year
The Evergreen State
Olympia, WA
Worth-It Score: 38/100
Median net price: $24,319
Common questions about Washington State
The median net price at Washington State is $14,971 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.
Looking at public universities options in Washington? See the most affordable public universities in Washington →
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 →