Washington State University
#1 Best Online Colleges in Washington- Graduation Rate
- 61% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $68,905 A
- Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $14,971 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 87% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 32.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $32.1 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Online Colleges in Washington.
Every $1 spent returns $32.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,861,813.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 69% more than the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $32.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.6%
- Top 41%
- Patents
- 122
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #301-350
- Times Higher Education
- Patent Citations
- 897
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 25/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Washington State University Matters
Washington State University is a public research university in Pullman, WA ranked #301-350 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 21,099
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Engineering
Why students choose Washington State 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 87% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,971 a year after grants and scholarships — 13% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $68,905 ten years after enrolling — 69% above the typical college, against $19,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 49% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.69 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 21,000 students, Washington State University in Pullman, WA, is a great fit for those who thrive in a vibrant community. It attracts a diverse mix of learners, particularly in popular fields like Business and Marketing, Biology, and Engineering. The 87% acceptance rate suggests that this school is accessible to many, making it an appealing option for students looking for solid academic programs without the pressure of highly selective admissions.
When it comes to what happens after graduation, the numbers tell a promising story. Graduates earn an average of $68,905 within ten years of finishing their degrees. This level of earning power can make a significant difference in life quality and mobility, especially when combined with a relatively affordable net price of $14,971 after aid. Although we don’t have detailed mobility metrics, the figures suggest that many students find success after they leave campus.
Looking at the financial side, students graduate with a median debt of $19,500, which is manageable given their earning potential. With 27% of students receiving Pell Grants, there’s a clear commitment to helping those who may need extra support. The environment here tends to favor those who are proactive and engaged, ready to make the most of not just their education, but the connections and opportunities that come with being part of this university community.
Rankings
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #1 Best Engineering Colleges in Washington
- #1 Best Communications Colleges in Washington
- #1 Best MBA Programs in Washington
- #2 Best Colleges in Washington
- #2 Best Business Colleges in Washington
- #2 Best Psychology Colleges in Washington
- #2 Best Biology Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Washington State 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 Washington State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Pullman, Washington, Washington State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 84%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,233
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 34%
- Applicants
- 19,401
- Admitted
- 16,123
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 Washington State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Washington State University is $29,950, 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 $14,971. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,074 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $13,391
- Out-of-State
- $29,950
- Avg Net Price
- $14,971
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 30%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,074
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,971
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,519
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,726
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Washington State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Washington State University earn a median of $68,905, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $53,510
- 8 Years
- $61,897
- 10 Years
- $68,905
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 74%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,594)
- 37%
- 100% (1,594)
- 37%
- 100% (1,594)
- 37%
- 100% (1,594)
- 37%
How Washington 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 Washington State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Washington State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,971/year ($59,884 total). Graduates earn $68,905 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,921,697 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,861,813 (32.1× your investment). The median debt is $19,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 61% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $59,884
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,921,697
- Net Return
- $1,861,813
- ROI Multiple
- 32.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,971
- Median Debt
- $19,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 61%
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 Washington State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Washington State 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 1.48%, well above the typical college. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $104,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.48%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 32.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $104,200
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Washington State University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 122 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 25/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.56%
- Top 41% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 122
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 897
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 25/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 34/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 34/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.32%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-64,174,711
Top Programs
The fields Washington State University 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.
- Business & Marketing 19%
- Social Sciences 10%
- Biology & Biomedical 9%
- Engineering 9%
- Psychology 9%
- Communications 7%
- Health Professions 6%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Washington State 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 Washington State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Pullman, Washington, Washington State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Washington State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Washington State University is $29,950, 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 $14,971. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,074 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,500 in federal student loans.
Is Washington State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Washington State University earn a median of $68,905, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Washington State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Washington State 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 1.48%, well above the typical college. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 32.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $104,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Washington State 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 Washington State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), 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.
How Research-Intensive Is Washington State University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Washington State University at #301-350 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 25/100, teaching at 29/100, and citation impact of 34/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Compare Washington State University
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Washington State University.
- University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL · Close peer61% grad $68,740 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-RiversideRiverside, CA · Close peer76% grad $67,699 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · Close peer64% grad $67,170 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-ChicoChico, CA · Close peer63% grad $64,172 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · Close peer65% grad $62,117 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Towson UniversityTowson, MD · Close peer69% grad $64,390 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Washington State 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 Washington State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), 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