# Most Affordable Colleges in Washington

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-washington

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Washington

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Finding an affordable college can feel like navigating a maze, especially in Washington state where options abound. For students and families weighing their choices, understanding which colleges offer the best value is crucial. With net prices starting as low as $3,136, these schools provide pathways to education without excessive financial burden.

The colleges on this list stand out not just for their low net prices, but also for their potential return on investment. Factors like average earnings, graduation rates, and student debt tell a story of opportunity and mobility. For instance, schools with higher graduation rates typically set their graduates up for better earnings, with the average salary of graduates from these institutions landing around $50,993.

Take Grays Harbor College and Bellingham Technical College as examples. Grays Harbor has a net price of $4,783 and a graduation rate of 35%, while Bellingham's net price is slightly higher at $5,997, but it boasts a higher graduation rate of 44%. This contrast highlights how different financial commitments can lead to varied outcomes, underscoring the importance of weighing all factors carefully.

## Key Findings

- Grays Harbor College has an impressive earning potential of $40,865, despite a 35% graduation rate.
- Bellingham Technical College offers a higher graduation rate at 44% but has a net price of $5,997.
- Northwest Indian College has one of the lowest net prices in the state at just $3,136.
- The average earnings for graduates across these colleges is $50,993, showcasing strong potential for financial stability.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Grays Harbor College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grays-harbor-college) | Aberdeen, WA | 35% | $40,865 | $4,783 | $11,075 | 0.27x |
| 2 | [Bellingham Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bellingham-technical-college) | Bellingham, WA | 44% | $49,748 | $5,997 | $17,459 | 0.35x |
| 3 | [Skagit Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/skagit-valley-college) | Mount Vernon, WA | 35% | $43,505 | $6,064 | $13,805 | 0.32x |
| 4 | [Northwest Indian College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-indian-college) | Bellingham, WA | 22% | $35,447 | $3,136 | N/A | N/A |
| 5 | [Spokane Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spokane-community-college) | Spokane, WA | 35% | $41,984 | $5,473 | $13,501 | 0.32x |
| 6 | [Lake Washington Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lake-washington-institute-of-technology) | Kirkland, WA | 38% | $50,669 | $6,817 | $15,047 | 0.3x |
| 7 | [Olympic College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/olympic-college) | Bremerton, WA | 33% | $43,169 | $7,172 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 8 | [Lower Columbia College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lower-columbia-college) | Longview, WA | 24% | $40,691 | $7,630 | $10,506 | 0.26x |
| 9 | [Columbia Basin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/columbia-basin-college) | Pasco, WA | 30% | $46,680 | $8,317 | $14,829 | 0.32x |
| 10 | [Tacoma Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tacoma-community-college) | Tacoma, WA | 32% | $47,168 | $8,376 | $13,000 | 0.28x |
| 11 | [Shoreline Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shoreline-community-college) | Shoreline, WA | 29% | $52,009 | $8,585 | $12,021 | 0.23x |
| 12 | [Spokane Falls Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spokane-falls-community-college) | Spokane, WA | 31% | $38,955 | $7,409 | $12,000 | 0.31x |
| 13 | [Bates Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bates-technical-college) | Tacoma, WA | 43% | $50,051 | $6,292 | N/A | N/A |
| 14 | [South Puget Sound Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-puget-sound-community-college) | Olympia, WA | 44% | $45,039 | $9,132 | $11,000 | 0.24x |
| 15 | [Renton Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/renton-technical-college) | Renton, WA | 50% | $49,782 | $8,296 | $7,920 | 0.16x |
| 16 | [Peninsula College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/peninsula-college) | Port Angeles, WA | 39% | $37,078 | $9,246 | $15,786 | 0.43x |
| 17 | [University of Washington-Tacoma Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-washington-tacoma-campus) | Tacoma, WA | 63% | $78,466 | $10,163 | $14,615 | 0.19x |
| 18 | [Walla Walla Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/walla-walla-community-college) | Walla Walla, WA | 43% | $43,526 | $9,406 | $14,000 | 0.32x |
| 19 | [Wenatchee Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wenatchee-valley-college) | Wenatchee, WA | 41% | $41,127 | $9,722 | $10,332 | 0.25x |
| 20 | [Clover Park Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clover-park-technical-college) | Lakewood, WA | 42% | $41,787 | $9,864 | $12,112 | 0.29x |
| 21 | [Seattle Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/seattle-central-college) | Seattle, WA | 31% | $43,307 | $8,819 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 22 | [Everett Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/everett-community-college) | Everett, WA | 38% | $45,434 | $10,684 | $10,417 | 0.23x |
| 23 | [South Seattle College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-seattle-college) | Seattle, WA | 29% | $44,486 | $6,004 | N/A | N/A |
| 24 | [Highline College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/highline-college) | Des Moines, WA | 37% | $47,869 | $9,879 | $9,500 | 0.2x |
| 25 | [Bellevue College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bellevue-college) | Bellevue, WA | 35% | $56,310 | $11,430 | $12,375 | 0.22x |
| 26 | [Clark College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clark-college) | Vancouver, WA | 37% | $42,356 | $11,465 | $10,881 | 0.26x |
| 27 | [Pierce College District](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pierce-college-district) | Lakewood, WA | 31% | $47,532 | $10,222 | $12,000 | 0.25x |
| 28 | [North Seattle College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-seattle-college) | Seattle, WA | 33% | $47,728 | $10,740 | $15,458 | 0.32x |
| 29 | [University of Washington-Bothell Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-washington-bothell-campus) | Bothell, WA | 67% | $78,466 | $12,319 | $14,615 | 0.19x |
| 30 | [Eastern Washington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-washington-university) | Cheney, WA | 45% | $57,897 | $13,886 | $19,500 | 0.34x |
| 31 | [Whatcom Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/whatcom-community-college) | Bellingham, WA | 36% | $44,092 | $11,795 | $10,643 | 0.24x |
| 32 | [Washington State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-state-university) | Pullman, WA | 61% | $68,905 | $14,971 | $19,500 | 0.28x |
| 33 | [Edmonds College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/edmonds-college) | Lynnwood, WA | 31% | $48,144 | $11,010 | $11,855 | 0.25x |
| 34 | [Big Bend Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/big-bend-community-college) | Moses Lake, WA | 39% | $43,814 | $12,210 | $9,166 | 0.21x |
| 35 | [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-washington-seattle-campus) | Seattle, WA | 84% | $78,466 | $14,091 | $14,615 | 0.19x |
| 36 | [Yakima Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/yakima-valley-college) | Yakima, WA | 31% | $43,499 | $11,843 | $13,966 | 0.32x |
| 37 | [Centralia College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/centralia-college) | Centralia, WA | 44% | $43,140 | $9,862 | N/A | N/A |
| 38 | [Cascadia College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cascadia-college) | Bothell, WA | 37% | $54,133 | $12,281 | $6,368 | 0.12x |
| 39 | [Heritage University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/heritage-university) | Toppenish, WA | 46% | $49,416 | $14,598 | $14,573 | 0.29x |
| 40 | [Green River College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/green-river-college) | Auburn, WA | 40% | $50,712 | $13,803 | $11,891 | 0.23x |
| 41 | [Central Washington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-washington-university) | Ellensburg, WA | 52% | $61,580 | $18,476 | $19,500 | 0.32x |
| 42 | [Pacific Lutheran University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pacific-lutheran-university) | Tacoma, WA | 70% | $66,990 | $19,589 | $22,578 | 0.34x |
| 43 | [Western Washington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-washington-university) | Bellingham, WA | 65% | $62,569 | $21,193 | $18,500 | 0.3x |
| 44 | [Perry Technical Institute](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/perry-technical-institute) | Yakima, WA | 78% | $57,764 | $20,047 | $14,139 | 0.24x |
| 45 | [Northwest University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-university) | Kirkland, WA | 67% | $54,914 | $22,288 | $20,891 | 0.38x |
| 46 | [The Evergreen State College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-evergreen-state-college) | Olympia, WA | 43% | $45,320 | $24,319 | $20,500 | 0.45x |
| 47 | [Seattle Pacific University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/seattle-pacific-university) | Seattle, WA | 62% | $64,506 | $24,488 | $24,000 | 0.37x |
| 48 | [Walla Walla University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/walla-walla-university) | College Place, WA | 62% | $61,885 | $23,329 | $26,842 | 0.43x |
| 49 | [Whitworth University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/whitworth-university) | Spokane, WA | 70% | $58,561 | $26,534 | $25,000 | 0.43x |
| 50 | [Saint Martin's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-martins-university) | Lacey, WA | 55% | $62,092 | $28,119 | $22,500 | 0.36x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in Washington." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-washington

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.