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Is Western Washington University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Western Washington, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Western Washington lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $18,500 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $62,569, but the margin is not huge. For context, Western Washington's net price sits about 68% above the typical 4-year, public school and near the top of its sector range. 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
$22,096
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis significantly impacts your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $8,942 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $36,000 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
$21,193
Median earnings 10 years out
$62,569
Median debt at graduation
$18,500
Graduation rate
65%
At Western Washington, a typical graduate carries about $18,500 in student debt and earns roughly $62,569 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $210 per month, or 4% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Western Washington is a public four year school in Bellingham, 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
The Evergreen State
Olympia, WA
Worth-It Score: 38/100
Median net price: $24,319
Public 4-year
Central Washington
Ellensburg, WA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $18,476
Public 4-year
Washington State
Pullman, WA
Worth-It Score: 74/100
Median net price: $14,971
Public 4-year
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Worth-It Score: 66/100
Median net price: $21,279
Public 4-year
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX
Worth-It Score: 82/100
Median net price: $21,315
Common questions about Western Washington
The median net price at Western Washington is $21,193 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 →