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Lake Washington Institute of Technology

#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington
Public Kirkland, WA · Suburban · Far West · 80% data
A+ Diversity A Value A- Affordability
38%
D
Graduation Rate
Lower completion rate than most colleges
$50,669
B-
Earnings (10yr)
Well above the typical college graduate
$6,817
A-
Net Price
60% less than the typical college
2,406
Enrollment
Earnings +24% vs avg
Graduation -33% vs avg
Net Price +-60% vs avg
Mobility Top 69%

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 42.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $42.8 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges in Washington.

42.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $42.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,138,735.

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What The Data Says

1

A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

2

Earnings 24% above the national college median.

3

Graduation of 38% — 33% below the national average.

4

Every $1 invested returns $42.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Lake Washington Institute of Technology Matters

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a public college in Kirkland, 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 College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
2,406
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Education, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 34% overall
B-
Earnings
$50,669 median
A
Value
7.4× net price
A-
Affordability
$6,817/yr net
D
Graduation
38% graduate
D+
Social Mobility
1.1% climb Q1→Q5
A+
Diversity
0.82 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a solid choice for students looking to dive into practical fields like Education, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. With an enrollment of around 2,406, it’s a place where you can find a community of like-minded individuals focused on skill-building and career readiness. The emphasis here is on hands-on learning, which resonates with those eager to enter the workforce equipped with applicable skills.

After graduation, students can expect to earn about $50,669 within a decade, which is a decent starting point for building a career. While the graduation rate sits at 38%, many find their footing and move up in their careers after completing their studies. Affordability is a big plus; the net price after aid is just $6,817, making it accessible for those who may be concerned about student debt. This financial aspect can ease the transition into the workforce for graduates.

On the practical side, students here typically carry a median debt of $15,047, which is manageable given their earnings potential. Those who thrive at Lake Washington tend to be driven and focused on specific career paths, often prioritizing practical skills over traditional academic routes. This approach allows for a supportive environment where students can grow at their own pace, ultimately leading to successful futures in their chosen fields.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Lake Washington Institute of Technology is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Kirkland, Washington, Lake Washington Institute of Technology enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 38%.

Full-Time Faculty 97%
Faculty Salary (mo) $9,914
Student–Faculty Ratio 16:1
Diversity Index 0.82
First-Gen Students 41%
2

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 Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Lake Washington Institute of Technology, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,062 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,817 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,255 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,047.

$5,997
In-State Tuition
$12,062
Out-of-State
$6,817
Avg Net Price
$15,047
Median Debt
13%
Pell Grant Rate
5%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$5,255
Family Income $0–$30K
$7,088
Family Income $30K–$48K
$9,784
Family Income $48K–$75K
$16,339
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Lake Washington Institute of Technology Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Lake Washington Institute of Technology earn a median of $50,669, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$44,895
6 Years After Entry
$49,469
8 Years
$50,669
10 Years
0.3x
Debt-to-Earnings
63%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$44,895 6yr $49,469 8yr $50,669 10yr

How Lake Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation38%Earnings 10yr$51KNet Price$7KMedian Debt$15KPell Grant Rate13%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$5K$0-30K$7K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$16K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%8.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%13.3%MOBILITY1.13%

College ROI Calculator

Is Lake Washington Institute of Technology Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Lake Washington Institute of Technology delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,817/year ($27,268 total). Graduates earn $50,669 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,166,003 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,138,735 (42.8× your investment). The median debt is $15,047, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$27,268
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,166,003
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,138,735
Net Return
42.8×
ROI Multiple
$6,817
Cost Per Year
$15,047
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
38%
Graduation Rate
4

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 Lake Washington Institute of Technology Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.13%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

1.13%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
13.3%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
8.5%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$84,100
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, with an economic connectedness score of 1.62 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.62
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.00
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
4.5%
Volunteering Rate
0.87
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

$479,871
Endowment
Total Expenses
$1,787,649
Federal Grants
$19,270
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Lake Washington Institute of Technology awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

As a public institution in Kirkland, Washington, Lake Washington Institute of Technology enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 38%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Lake Washington Institute of Technology, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,062 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,817 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,255 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $15,047.

Is Lake Washington Institute of Technology Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Lake Washington Institute of Technology earn a median of $50,669, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

Does Lake Washington Institute of Technology Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.13%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Lake Washington Institute of Technology? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, with an economic connectedness score of 1.62 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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