Rankings / MBA
Best MBA Programs in Washington
- 15
- Schools
- $67,297
- Avg. Earnings
- 66%
- Avg. Graduation
- $21,282
- Avg. Net Price
- $20,466
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 15 programs run from $54,914 to $78,892, a 1.4× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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University of Washington-Bothell Campus delivers the most for the money: roughly $78,466 in median earnings against $12,319 a year in tuition, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, University of Washington-Bothell Campus ($12,319 tuition), still posts $78,466 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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Gonzaga University graduates 87% of its students, versus a 66% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.19× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- University of Washington-Bothell Campus costs $12,319 a year and University of Washington-Seattle Campus costs $41,160. Yet their graduates earn $78,466 and $78,466, nowhere near the $28,841 price gap.
- On value, University of Washington-Bothell Campus beats Gonzaga University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the tuition.
- Graduation rates split the field: Gonzaga University finishes 87% of students while Eastern Washington University finishes 45%. Same ranking, very different odds of leaving with a degree.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked programs is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with University of Washington-Bothell Campus and Gonzaga University. For each program, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $65K within a decade, and management analyst roles are projected to grow 10%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
- Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618.
- U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics.
- National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
- U.S. News & World Report. Best Business Schools MBA Rankings. Used for MBA program validation.
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Gonzaga University #1 overall | $78,892 ▲ +17% vs avg | $35,119 | 87% | 74 |
| 2 Washington State University #2 overall | $68,905 ▲ +2% vs avg | $14,971 | 61% | 74 |
| 3 Pacific Lutheran University #3 overall | $66,990 ▲ +0% vs avg | $19,589 | 70% | 73 |
| $62,569 ▼ -7% vs avg | $21,193 | 65% | 72 | |
| $75,272 ▲ +12% vs avg | $34,662 | 74% | 72 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best MBA Programs in Washington
This analysis ranks 15 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $67,297 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 66% and an average net price of $21,282.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: University of Washington-Tacoma Campus — Net Price: $10,163 | Graduation Rate: 63%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Gonzaga University — 87% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Gonzaga University — Median alumni earnings: $78,892
Research Note
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Management Education Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about leadership and management education?
$64,506
Median earnings (10yr)
65%
Median graduation rate
$21,193
Median net price
1.4%
Avg. mobility rate
Business and MBA programs sell acceleration: faster paths into management, bigger networks, and a salary step-change. The return is famously dispersed, though. A handful of programs deliver enormous ROI through placement and alumni networks, while many barely clear the cost of attendance. Management education is less a single product than a wide spectrum of outcomes.
The median graduation rate across these 15 programs is 65%. Median graduate earnings reach $64,506 ten years after enrollment, roughly $16,506 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $21,193 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $19,883. Some 28% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.4%.
What we’re seeing: value concentrates where networks and employer pipelines are strongest, and ROI varies more here than in almost any other field. Median earnings reach $64,506 ten years after enrollment, with Gonzaga University at the top of the list. The spread between the best programs and the median is the real story of an MBA.
The podium
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Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Gonzaga University lands at #1 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $78,892 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $35,119 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Washington State University lands at #2 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $68,905 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,971 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Pacific Lutheran University lands at #3 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $66,990 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,589 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Western Washington University lands at #4 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (62/100). Graduates earn a median $62,569 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,193 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Seattle University lands at #5 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $75,272 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $34,662 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Central Washington University lands at #6 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (64/100). Graduates earn a median $61,580 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,476 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
University of Washington-Seattle Campus lands at #7 with a 70/100 composite, led by academic quality (88/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $78,466 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,091 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Eastern Washington University lands at #8 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $57,897 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,886 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Seattle Pacific University lands at #9 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $64,506 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $24,488 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Whitworth University lands at #10 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $58,561 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,534 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Walla Walla University lands at #11 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $61,885 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,329 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Northwest University lands at #12 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $54,914 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,288 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus lands at #13 with a 66/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (79/100) and pulled down by social mobility (43/100). Graduates earn a median $78,466 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,163 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Saint Martin's University lands at #14 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $62,092 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,119 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Bothell, WA · 91% accepted · $12,319 net
Why it ranks #15
University of Washington-Bothell Campus lands at #15 with a 63/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (79/100) and pulled down by social mobility (32/100). Graduates earn a median $78,466 a decade after enrolling, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,319 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 15 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Management Analysts and related roles — a field with $99,410 median pay and 10% projected growth.
See the Management Analyst career guide →When considering an MBA, location can be just as important as the program's reputation. In Washington, several schools stand out for their strong graduate outcomes that reflect both earnings and overall value. With an average graduate earnings figure of $67,297, students have a variety of options to explore.
The schools on this list are ranked based on key metrics like earnings, graduation rates, debt levels, and mobility. These factors provide insight into the potential return on investment for an MBA. For instance, schools with a higher graduation rate often correlate with better job placement and earnings, giving students a clearer picture of what to expect after graduation.
Take the University of Washington-Seattle Campus and Gonzaga University, for example. While both schools report similar earnings, Gonzaga has a higher graduation rate at 87% compared to Seattle's 84%. However, the tradeoff is clear: Gonzaga's net price is significantly higher at $35,119, which may stretch a budget. This contrast helps illustrate the importance of weighing financial factors alongside academic success as you explore your options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 12 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.4%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Saint Martin's University leads the group at 3%, with Eastern Washington University (1.9%) and Seattle University (1.9%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 5% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Saint Martin's University enrolls the most, at 10.1%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 28.3% across the list, peaking at 40.3% at Seattle University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Seattle University is highest at 1.85.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
It's clear that financial factors significantly impact student outcomes in Washington's MBA programs. For instance, while both the University of Washington-Tacoma and Washington State University have similar earnings of around $68,905, their graduation rates differ substantially. Tacoma's graduation rate of 63% indicates that not all students find the program equally supportive, while Washington State's 61% further emphasizes the challenges students may face in completing their degrees.
Now that you've seen the data for 15 MBA programs, it's time to think about your priorities. Consider factors like location, program fit, and campus culture alongside the numbers. If finances are your primary concern, schools like the University of Washington-Bothell Campus might stand out for their lower net price. However, if you value a strong graduation and employment rate, Gonzaga University could be worth the investment.
The data on these MBA programs offers a window into the potential outcomes of your decision. Choosing the right program can set the stage for a stable career and financial security. For families weighing this decision, understanding the balance between cost and quality is crucial — one informed choice can lead to a lifetime of stability.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best MBA Programs in Washington: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best MBA Programs in Washington ranking? +
Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best MBA Programs in Washington ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $78,892 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 87% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which program has the highest graduate earnings? +
Gonzaga University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $78,892 ten years after enrollment, well above the $67,297 average across the 15 ranked programs with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which program offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, University of Washington-Bothell Campus leads: graduates earn a median $78,466 against tuition of about $12,319 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Gonzaga University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 87%, compared with a 66% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does an MBA cost at these schools? +
Across the 4 programs with verified tuition, annual MBA tuition averages $27,339, ranging from about $20,000 a year at Gonzaga University to $41,160 at University of Washington-Seattle Campus. These are tuition figures pulled from official program pages (in-state where the school is public), not estimated net price.
How is the Best MBA Programs in Washington ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 15 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618. →
U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics. →
National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). →
U.S. News & World Report. Best Business Schools MBA Rankings. Used for MBA program validation. →
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