Eastern Washington University
#4 Best Education Colleges in Washington- Graduation Rate
- 45% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $57,897 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $13,886 C+
- 19% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 91% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 27.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $27.6 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Education Colleges in Washington.
Every $1 spent returns $27.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,477,690.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Earnings 42% above the national college median.
-
Graduation of 45% — 21% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $27.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Eastern Washington University Matters
Eastern Washington University is a public university in Cheney, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 6,222
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose Eastern Washington University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 91% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,886 a year after grants and scholarships — 19% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $57,897 ten years after enrolling — 42% above the typical college, against $19,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 31% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.50 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 91%, Eastern Washington University is an inviting choice for students seeking a supportive environment where they can explore diverse fields like Business, Psychology, Education, Biology, and Social Sciences. The university’s size, with around 6,222 students, fosters a sense of community while still offering a range of academic programs. This makes it a good fit for individuals who want to engage in a variety of studies and require a school that is accessible yet offers substantial academic resources.
Graduates from Eastern Washington University can expect to earn around $57,897 within ten years of completing their degree. This earning potential is particularly relevant for students who are focused on returning their investment in education. With a net price of $13,886 after financial aid, the university remains a financially viable option. Approximately 35% of students receive Pell Grants, which indicates that the school serves a diverse population, including those from lower-income backgrounds.
When considering the financial implications of attending Eastern Washington University, the median debt of $19,500 is important to note. This manageable debt level suggests that students can graduate without an overwhelming financial burden. Those who tend to thrive here are often motivated individuals who appreciate a collaborative learning atmosphere and are ready to take advantage of the opportunities available both academically and socially.
Rankings
- #4 Best Education Colleges in Washington
- #6 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #6 Best Communications Colleges in Washington
- #8 Best MBA Programs in Washington
- #9 Best Colleges in Washington
- #9 Best Bachelor's Programs in Washington
- #9 Best Business Colleges in Washington
- #9 Best Biology Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Eastern Washington University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Eastern Washington University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Cheney, Washington, Eastern Washington University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 63%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,643
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.59
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 4,666
- Admitted
- 4,485
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Eastern Washington University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 23% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 23%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 7%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 100%
- of enrolled freshmen
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Eastern Washington University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Eastern Washington University is $25,959, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,886. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,547 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,586
- Out-of-State
- $25,959
- Avg Net Price
- $13,886
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 35%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,547
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,204
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,292
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,279
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Eastern Washington University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Eastern Washington University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Eastern Washington University earn a median of $57,897, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,469
- 8 Years
- $52,481
- 10 Years
- $57,897
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.34x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (414)
- 26%
- 100% (414)
- 26%
- 100% (414)
- 26%
- 100% (414)
- 26%
How Eastern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Eastern Washington University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Eastern Washington University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,886/year ($55,544 total). Graduates earn $57,897 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,533,234 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,477,690 (27.6× your investment). The median debt is $19,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 45% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $55,544
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,533,234
- Net Return
- $1,477,690
- ROI Multiple
- 27.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,886
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 45%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Eastern Washington University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Eastern Washington University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.92%, well above the typical college. About 6.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 28.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $85,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.92%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 28.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $116,708
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $502,891
Top Programs
The fields Eastern Washington University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 15% $51,962 early-career
- Education 11% $50,714 early-career
- Psychology 11% $34,840 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $50,714 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $36,992 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $48,490 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $67,702 early-career
- Communications 6% $39,219 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Eastern Washington University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Eastern Washington University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Cheney, Washington, Eastern Washington University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Eastern Washington University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Eastern Washington University is $25,959, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,886. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,547 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
Is Eastern Washington University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Eastern Washington University earn a median of $57,897, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Eastern Washington University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Eastern Washington University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.92%, well above the typical college. About 6.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 28.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $85,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Eastern Washington University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Eastern Washington University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.50, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Eastern Washington University offer Early Decision?
No. Eastern Washington University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Eastern Washington University really test-optional?
Eastern Washington University reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 1% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2025-26 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Eastern Washington University?
About 23% of admitted students choose to enroll at Eastern Washington University — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Eastern Washington University.
- University of Houston-Clear LakeHouston, TX · Close peer51% grad $59,004 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh, WI · Close peer51% grad $55,548 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud, MN · Close peer44% grad $55,813 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- William Paterson University of New JerseyWayne, NJ · Close peer46% grad $57,780 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The University of Texas at TylerTyler, TX · Close peer51% grad $57,053 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay, WI · Close peer50% grad $52,528 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Eastern Washington University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Eastern Washington University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.50, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note