Zoom
In
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2022
Questions & Answers
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2019-20 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2022.
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $17,386 and the average private school would be $29,242. You can also get information on specific Washington schools in the chart above or the tables below.
Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work
Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
| Total Cost at University of Washington-Seattle (2019-20) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $11,465 |
| Room and Board | $13,296 |
| Books | $900 |
| Other Expenses | $2,733 |
| Total | $28,394 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2019-20 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2022. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
| College Total Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
| Family Income | WA Public $24,097 | WA Private $58,400 |
| $0 - $30k | $7,450 | $18,844 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $8,646 | $19,908 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $11,917 | $24,544 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $17,386 | $29,242 |
| $110,001+ | $20,004 | $34,849 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Washington public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $12,000-$15,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Washington. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public WA Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Bellevue College
Bellevue Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $3,866 $3,958 Room and Board $12,930 $13,530 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $3,600 $3,714 Total $21,296 $22,132 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,775 $7,041 $30,001 - $48k $8,550 $8,886 $48,001 - $75k $10,072 $10,467 $75,001 - $110k $14,454 $15,021 $110,001+ $14,388 $14,953 -
Central Washington University
Ellensburg Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $8,273 $8,444 Room and Board $12,637 $13,787 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $2,922 $2,922 Total $24,732 $26,053 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,796 $11,373 $30,001 - $48k $12,706 $13,385 $48,001 - $75k $17,235 $18,156 $75,001 - $110k $21,566 $22,718 $110,001+ $22,466 $23,666 -
Centralia College
Centralia Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,542 $4,652 Room and Board $10,770 $11,118 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $3,510 $3,720 Total $19,722 $20,420 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,026 $5,204 $30,001 - $48k $6,088 $6,303 $48,001 - $75k $8,431 $8,729 $75,001 - $110k $10,781 $11,163 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Clark College
Vancouver Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $3,879 $3,957 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $900 $870 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $4,779 $4,827 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,893 $6,962 $30,001 - $48k $6,988 $7,058 $48,001 - $75k $9,727 $9,825 $75,001 - $110k $13,268 $13,401 $110,001+ $14,448 $14,593 -
Columbia Basin College
Pasco Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $5,613 $5,755 Room and Board $9,875 $9,920 Books $840 $840 Other Expenses $2,255 $2,280 Total $18,583 $18,795 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,704 $8,803 $30,001 - $48k $8,964 $9,066 $48,001 - $75k $11,513 $11,644 $75,001 - $110k $14,436 $14,601 $110,001+ $16,105 $16,289 -
Eastern Washington University
Cheney Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $7,526 $7,733 Room and Board $12,405 $13,480 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $2,700 $3,075 Total $23,531 $25,218 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,657 $8,206 $30,001 - $48k $8,595 $9,211 $48,001 - $75k $12,224 $13,100 $75,001 - $110k $17,266 $18,504 $110,001+ $18,760 $20,105 -
The Evergreen State College
Olympia Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $8,217 $8,325 Room and Board $12,363 $12,735 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $3,525 $3,525 Total $25,005 $25,485 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,711 $9,897 $30,001 - $48k $12,613 $12,855 $48,001 - $75k $16,404 $16,719 $75,001 - $110k $21,614 $22,029 $110,001+ $21,781 $22,199 -
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom
Lakewood Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,041 $4,173 Room and Board $9,690 $9,690 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $3,570 $3,570 Total $18,301 $18,433 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,771 $6,820 $30,001 - $48k $8,354 $8,414 $48,001 - $75k $10,078 $10,151 $75,001 - $110k $14,037 $14,138 $110,001+ $14,465 $14,569 -
Grays Harbor College
Aberdeen Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,204 $4,296 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $5,104 $5,226 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,660 $4,771 $30,001 - $48k $5,104 $5,226 $48,001 - $75k $7,239 $7,412 $75,001 - $110k $12,774 $13,079 $110,001+ $11,859 $12,142 -
Green River College
Auburn Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,141 $4,233 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $5,041 $5,163 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,737 $7,924 $30,001 - $48k $8,625 $8,834 $48,001 - $75k $10,146 $10,392 $75,001 - $110k $14,834 $15,193 $110,001+ $15,907 $16,292 -
Highline College
Des Moines Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,127 $4,231 Room and Board $9,864 $10,394 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $3,600 $3,702 Total $18,491 $19,257 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,273 $5,491 $30,001 - $48k $6,081 $6,333 $48,001 - $75k $8,479 $8,830 $75,001 - $110k $9,047 $9,422 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,418 $4,510 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $1,035 $1,101 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $5,453 $5,611 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,088 $8,322 $30,001 - $48k $8,085 $8,319 $48,001 - $75k $13,290 $13,675 $75,001 - $110k $14,884 $15,315 $110,001+ $14,884 $15,315 -
North Seattle College
Seattle Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,625 $4,123 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $5,525 $5,023 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,216 $3,833 $30,001 - $48k $4,111 $3,737 $48,001 - $75k $6,499 $5,909 $75,001 - $110k $11,939 $10,854 $110,001+ $13,318 $12,108
-
Olympic College
Bremerton Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $3,880 $3,971 Room and Board $10,355 $10,385 Books $1,250 $1,275 Other Expenses $3,955 $3,975 Total $19,440 $19,606 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,218 $6,271 $30,001 - $48k $7,846 $7,913 $48,001 - $75k $10,171 $10,258 $75,001 - $110k $13,221 $13,334 $110,001+ $14,466 $14,590 -
Peninsula College
Port Angeles Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,126 $4,218 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $5,026 $5,148 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,122 $6,271 $30,001 - $48k $6,474 $6,631 $48,001 - $75k $8,187 $8,386 $75,001 - $110k $9,825 $10,063 $110,001+ $13,899 $14,236 -
Renton Technical College
Renton Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $5,567 $5,671 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $6,467 $6,601 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,962 $6,086 $30,001 - $48k $4,762 $4,861 $48,001 - $75k $9,874 $10,079 $75,001 - $110k $12,684 $12,947 $110,001+ $14,098 $14,390 -
South Seattle College
Seattle Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,717 $4,214 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $845 $845 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $5,562 $5,059 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,948 $6,320 $30,001 - $48k $7,813 $7,106 $48,001 - $75k $11,167 $10,157 $75,001 - $110k $10,711 $9,742 $110,001+ $11,222 $10,207 -
Seattle Central College
Seattle Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $3,779 $4,053 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $865 $865 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $4,644 $4,918 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,132 $4,376 $30,001 - $48k $4,473 $4,737 $48,001 - $75k $7,159 $7,581 $75,001 - $110k $12,829 $13,586 $110,001+ $0 $0 -
Skagit Valley College
Mount Vernon Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,000 $4,000 Room and Board $9,600 $9,600 Books $1,200 $960 Other Expenses $3,000 $3,000 Total $17,800 $17,560 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,701 $5,624 $30,001 - $48k $6,514 $6,426 $48,001 - $75k $8,517 $8,402 $75,001 - $110k $12,056 $11,893 $110,001+ $13,688 $13,503 -
Washington State University
Pullman Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $11,841 $12,170 Room and Board $11,648 $11,848 Books $960 $960 Other Expenses $3,542 $3,542 Total $27,991 $28,520 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,689 $7,834 $30,001 - $48k $8,719 $8,884 $48,001 - $75k $14,233 $14,502 $75,001 - $110k $21,163 $21,563 $110,001+ $23,684 $24,132 -
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $11,465 $11,745 Room and Board $13,296 $13,887 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $2,733 $2,787 Total $28,394 $29,319 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,194 $5,363 $30,001 - $48k $6,399 $6,607 $48,001 - $75k $8,393 $8,666 $75,001 - $110k $16,894 $17,444 $110,001+ $25,264 $26,087 -
Western Washington University
Bellingham Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $8,343 $8,508 Room and Board $12,036 $12,518 Books $954 $996 Other Expenses $3,672 $3,783 Total $25,005 $25,805 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,979 $10,298 $30,001 - $48k $11,357 $11,720 $48,001 - $75k $16,819 $17,357 $75,001 - $110k $21,763 $22,459 $110,001+ $23,101 $23,840 -
Yakima Valley College
Yakima Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,285 $4,770 Room and Board $8,100 $8,364 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $3,570 $3,690 Total $16,855 $17,754 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,284 $6,619 $30,001 - $48k $7,604 $8,010 $48,001 - $75k $9,502 $10,009 $75,001 - $110k $13,035 $13,730 $110,001+ $14,350 $15,115 -
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $11,390 $11,649 Room and Board $12,636 $13,191 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $3,789 $3,873 Total $28,715 $29,613 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,864 $7,079 $30,001 - $48k $6,966 $7,184 $48,001 - $75k $9,439 $9,734 $75,001 - $110k $17,656 $18,208 $110,001+ $22,404 $23,105 -
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $11,639 $11,889 Room and Board $11,748 $12,258 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $3,309 $3,360 Total $27,596 $28,407 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,854 $6,026 $30,001 - $48k $5,788 $5,958 $48,001 - $75k $8,147 $8,386 $75,001 - $110k $15,007 $15,448 $110,001+ $20,078 $20,668 -
Cascadia College
Bothell Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $4,055 $4,226 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $825 $900 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $4,880 $5,126 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,753 $8,144 $30,001 - $48k $8,227 $8,642 $48,001 - $75k $9,644 $10,130 $75,001 - $110k $13,459 $14,137 $110,001+ $14,832 $15,580
Private WA Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Gonzaga University
Spokane Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $45,140 $46,920 Room and Board $12,330 $12,951 Books $1,158 $1,196 Other Expenses $3,622 $3,735 Total $62,250 $64,802 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,762 $21,613 $30,001 - $48k $24,906 $25,927 $48,001 - $75k $26,473 $27,558 $75,001 - $110k $33,526 $34,900 $110,001+ $39,730 $41,359 -
Northwest University
Kirkland Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $32,960 $33,980 Room and Board $9,000 $9,420 Books $870 $900 Other Expenses $2,470 $2,600 Total $45,300 $46,900 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,928 $16,491 $30,001 - $48k $14,058 $14,555 $48,001 - $75k $18,754 $19,416 $75,001 - $110k $21,372 $22,127 $110,001+ $27,838 $28,821 -
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $43,674 $46,850 Room and Board $10,876 $11,150 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $2,808 $2,880 Total $58,258 $61,810 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,532 $15,418 $30,001 - $48k $15,500 $16,445 $48,001 - $75k $21,062 $22,346 $75,001 - $110k $28,190 $29,909 $110,001+ $28,832 $30,590 -
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $51,740 $52,775 Room and Board $13,000 $13,480 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,406 $2,406 Total $68,146 $69,661 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $24,734 $25,284 $30,001 - $48k $24,158 $24,695 $48,001 - $75k $30,077 $30,746 $75,001 - $110k $31,947 $32,657 $110,001+ $41,005 $41,917 -
Saint Martin's University
Lacey Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $38,560 $39,940 Room and Board $12,000 $12,410 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $3,000 $3,000 Total $54,560 $56,350 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,625 $18,203 $30,001 - $48k $19,743 $20,391 $48,001 - $75k $21,034 $21,724 $75,001 - $110k $26,114 $26,971 $110,001+ $27,884 $28,799
-
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $45,078 $47,244 Room and Board $12,285 $12,687 Books $900 $930 Other Expenses $3,189 $3,783 Total $61,452 $64,644 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,772 $21,851 $30,001 - $48k $20,918 $22,005 $48,001 - $75k $24,278 $25,539 $75,001 - $110k $30,211 $31,780 $110,001+ $35,993 $37,863 -
Seattle University
Seattle Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $46,590 $48,390 Room and Board $12,531 $12,780 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,600 $3,600 Total $63,921 $65,970 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $25,304 $26,115 $30,001 - $48k $27,455 $28,335 $48,001 - $75k $32,076 $33,104 $75,001 - $110k $35,424 $36,560 $110,001+ $40,015 $41,298 -
Walla Walla University
College Place Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $28,881 $29,931 Room and Board $7,680 $8,469 Books $990 $1,020 Other Expenses $1,944 $2,100 Total $39,495 $41,520 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,278 $19,215 $30,001 - $48k $16,772 $17,632 $48,001 - $75k $21,907 $23,030 $75,001 - $110k $24,931 $26,209 $110,001+ $26,717 $28,087 -
Whitman College
Walla Walla Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $53,820 $50,408 Room and Board $13,512 $13,800 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $800 $800 Total $69,532 $66,408 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,202 $15,474 $30,001 - $48k $18,380 $17,554 $48,001 - $75k $28,150 $26,885 $75,001 - $110k $29,459 $28,135 $110,001+ $47,231 $45,109 -
Whitworth University
Spokane Year 2019-20 2020-21 Tuition and Fees $44,940 $46,250 Room and Board $11,800 $12,150 Books $912 $936 Other Expenses $3,436 $3,554 Total $61,088 $62,890 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,298 $14,720 $30,001 - $48k $17,191 $17,698 $48,001 - $75k $21,629 $22,267 $75,001 - $110k $31,246 $32,168 $110,001+ $33,240 $34,221
View Other States
Select a state from the map below to view colleges in nearby states.
If you found the information of this page useful, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Get great information on all aspects of planning for college. We have interviews with experts, students and their stories, and the latest news in college admissions. Listen to each half-hour episode while you’re driving or working out. Use your favorite podcast app, iTunes, or listen directly at the website.
