2023 best colleges in Washington

Featuring an iconic coastline, deep green forests, and high-quality public and private institutions, Washington offers students a healthy mix of nightlife, wildlife, and activity. Evergreen State College in Olympia was founded in the 1960s as an experimental institution and still encourages students to design their own academic programs. Established in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast and renowned for its contribution to medical, engineering, and scientific research. Not to mention the opportunity for small classes at the state’s private and liberal arts schools, like Whitman College, which has a 9:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

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#1 in Washington | #42 in Political Science nationally

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

Economic score: 2.38

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $12,017

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 2.5 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $46,832

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $2,759

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 53%
Graduation rate: 85%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#2 in Washington | #192 in Political Science nationally

Gonzaga University

Spokane, Washington

Economic score: 4.54

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $34,451

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 5.4 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $52,511

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: + $8,655

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 76%
Graduation rate: 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#3 in Washington | #223 in Political Science nationally

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

Economic score: 5.08

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $15,300

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 5.1 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $40,366

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $1

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 86%
Graduation rate: 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#4 in Washington | #288 in Political Science nationally
Economic score: 6.31

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $12,335

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 5.3 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $37,627

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $6,786

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 97%
Graduation rate: 60%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#5 in Washington | #311 in Political Science nationally

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, Washington

Economic score: 6.93

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $16,514

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 6.1 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $39,009

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $5,395

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 88%
Graduation rate: 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#6 in Washington | #336 in Political Science nationally

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, Washington

Economic score: 7.99

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $26,714

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 7.6 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $41,792

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $2,293

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 92%
Graduation rate: 68%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#7 in Washington | #351 in Political Science nationally

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington

Economic score: 8.70

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $35,109

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 8.5 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $43,045

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $808

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 82%
Graduation rate: 78%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#8 in Washington | #373 in Political Science nationally

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington

Economic score: 10.29

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $17,070

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 8.4 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $36,191

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $8,135

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 96%
Graduation rate: 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#9 in Washington | #398 in Political Science nationally

University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, Washington

Economic score: 12.78

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $33,562

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 11.2 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $38,218

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $5,461

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 88%
Graduation rate: 77%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#10 in Washington | #438 in Political Science nationally

Whitman College

Walla Walla, Washington

Economic score: 22.61

The Economic Score is the combination of payback and earningsplus, and is how we determine a school’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

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Net cost: $35,894

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Payback: 17.6 years

Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.

Earnings: $33,993

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

EarningsPlus: - $9,711

EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.

Admission rate: 59%
Graduation rate: 90%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

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How long does it take me to repay a bachelor's degree in poli sci/government in Washington?

Years

5.1 years

The cost of the average bachelor's degree in poli sci/government in Washington is covered by the new earnings of graduates in 5.1 years.

How much do graduates with bachelor's degree in poli sci/government earn in Washington?

Salary

$44,487

The median bachelor's degree in poli sci/government graduate earns $44,487 3 years after graduating.

How much does a bachelor's degree in poli sci/government cost in Washington?

Net cost

$17,712

The average annual cost of a bachelor's degree in poli sci/government is $17,712. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.