Best College ROI in Wa 2026
56 colleges in Wa analyzed for return on investment. Eastern Washington University leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Wa has 56 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 38 public institutions and 18 private ones. Across the 56 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $23K and earn $81K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
95% of Wa colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Eastern Washington University (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences). The lowest median debt comes from Faith International University at $11K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Wa
Eastern Washington University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Wa's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $11K in median debt.
Cascadia College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer Programming. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
North Seattle College
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Programming. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $18K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Wa
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Washington University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $11K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | Cascadia College(public) | Computer Programming | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | North Seattle College(public) | Computer Programming | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 4 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus(public) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $19K | $95K | A (97) |
| 5 | Bellevue College(public) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | Clark College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Green River College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | Renton Technical College(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 9 | Spokane Falls Community College(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 10 | Tacoma Community College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 11 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $19K | $95K | A (96) |
| 12 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 13 | Western Washington University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 14 | Whatcom Community College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 15 | Whitman College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 16 | Central Washington University(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 17 | Clover Park Technical College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $25K | $95K | A (95) |
| 18 | Columbia Basin College(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | DigiPen Institute of Technology(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | Gonzaga University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Wa is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eastern Washington University has the best ROI in Wa with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $11K in median debt.
Across 56 Wa colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $23K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $81K.
Eastern Washington University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Wa has 56 colleges in our database (38 public, 18 private). Of the 56 with reportable ROI, 95% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).