Washington State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Pullman, Washington. It enrolls 21,099 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes58
Value89
Affordability55
Selectivity29
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.6%, Washington State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Washington State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
9.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Washington State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,971 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,971
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
30%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$13,391
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$29,950
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,622
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,622
Books & Supplies
$762
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,444
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,444
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,648
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,074
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,971
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,519
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,426
Over $110,000
$24,726
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$32,41790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,380
↓ $4,120
No Pell $14,000
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $14,115
↓ $5,385
Independent students $16,520
↓ $2,980
Female students $14,899
↓ $4,601
Male students $14,750
↓ $4,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
60% of full-time students who enrolled at Washington State University graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
60%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Washington State University earn a median of $68,905 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$68,905
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$49,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$59,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,800, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Washington State University is home to 21,099 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
21,099
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 57.5%12,130
Hispanic 18.9%3,977
Other 9.6%2,017
Asian 6.8%1,428
Black 3.2%673
International 2.3%483
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Washington State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantPullman, Washington
Housing
Partly residential7,029 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Washington State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
203 distinct programs across
27 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Washington State University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$13,981
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.3B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$97,965
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,410 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
406
29%
$125,474
Associate Professors
470
33%
$92,485
Assistant Professors
482
34%
$81,442
Instructors
9
1%
$108,439
Lecturers
38
3%
$59,562
No Rank
5
0%
$109,795
Pros & Cons of Washington State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Washington State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
No clear weaknesses in the data.
Best for:
Based on the data, Washington State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Washington State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Washington State University.
Is Washington State University hard to get into?
Washington State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Washington State University?
Washington State University has an acceptance rate of 86.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Washington State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Washington State University is $14,971 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Washington State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $68,905 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,971 per year. That's roughly 4.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Washington State University known for?
Washington State University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Washington State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Washington State University are $68,905, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Washington State University accredited?
Yes. Washington State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Washington State University?
Washington State University enrolls 21,099 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Washington State University?
Washington State University graduates 60% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Washington State University a public or private college?
Washington State University is a Public institution.
Where is Washington State University located?
Washington State University is located in Pullman, Washington.
What programs does Washington State University offer?
Washington State University offers 203 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Washington State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Washington State University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Washington
Other colleges in Washington share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Nursing
Teacher Education (K-12)
Business Administration
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