Washington State University
Washington State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Washington State University at a Glance
Washington State University is a public land-grant research university in Pullman, Washington, United States. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant universities in the American West. With an undergraduate enrollment of 24,278 and a total enrollment of 28,581, it is the second largest institution of higher education in Washington state behind the University of Washington. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".
1890
136 years old
$800M
$800.3 million (2025)
1,600
21,400 undergrad · 2,797 grad
2,261
16:1 student:faculty
1,742 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Washington State University
Official admissions page$70
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is Washington State University Worth It?
Washington State University delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $14,971/year, it's priced 27% below average, while graduates go on to earn $68,905 — 28% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 61% graduation rate means roughly 39% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: Washington State University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Washington State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #18 of 82 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #3 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #4 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #5 | California State University-Northridge | 100 | $7,021 | $59,115 |
| #6 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #18 | Washington State University | 70 | $14,971 | $68,905 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Washington State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in WA.
Best Programs at Washington State University
The highest-earning program at Washington State University is Computer Science at $68,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $18,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Washington State University earns $68,400, while a Anthropology graduate earns $18,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $20,000 in median debt vs. $18,125 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,971/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $68,400 | $68,400 | $20,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $68,400 | $68,400 | $15,250 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $66,300 | $66,300 | $18,000 |
| Construction Management | $65,300 | $65,300 | $28,243 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,300 | $61,300 | $18,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $61,200 | $61,200 | $24,077 |
| Civil Engineering | $59,800 | $59,800 | $24,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $56,000 | $56,000 | $21,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $47,800 | $47,800 | $21,631 |
| Marketing | $47,500 | $47,500 | $22,250 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $46,900 | $46,900 | N/A |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $46,800 | $46,800 | $21,315 |
| Applied Mathematics | $45,000 | $45,000 | $20,357 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,400 | $44,400 | $19,875 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $44,000 | $44,000 | $19,062 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $42,400 | $42,400 | $19,971 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $42,300 | $42,300 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $42,000 | $42,000 | N/A |
| Design and Applied Arts | $41,400 | $41,400 | $20,500 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $41,100 | $41,100 | $19,500 |
| Economics | $40,500 | $40,500 | $21,125 |
| International Business | $40,400 | $40,400 | $20,967 |
| Social Sciences, General | $36,500 | $36,500 | $21,875 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,500 | $34,500 | $20,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $34,000 | $34,000 | $18,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $33,900 | $33,900 | $21,691 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $32,400 | $32,400 | $18,750 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $32,000 | $32,000 | $25,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $31,800 | $31,800 | $22,375 |
| Psychology, General | $31,100 | $31,100 | $20,125 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $30,800 | $30,800 | $20,750 |
| History | $30,800 | $30,800 | $22,080 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $30,700 | $30,700 | $20,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $29,900 | $29,900 | N/A |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $29,600 | $29,600 | $20,566 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $29,500 | $29,500 | $22,083 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,300 | $29,300 | $20,375 |
| Biology, General | $29,100 | $29,100 | $20,714 |
| Animal Sciences | $28,300 | $28,300 | $24,250 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,800 | $24,800 | $22,460 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $24,700 | $24,700 | $19,160 |
| Sociology | $24,400 | $24,400 | $15,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $21,900 | $21,900 | N/A |
| Anthropology | $18,100 | $18,100 | $18,125 |
Similar Colleges in WA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Pullman, WA
- Student Body
- 21,099 students
- Admission Rate
- 87%
- Graduation Rate
- 61%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,971
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $68,905
- Median Student Debt
- $19,500