Paying for college · Washington
What college really costs in Washington
Average yearly net price after grants at 84 four-year colleges, lowest first. The figure for families earning under $30,000 shows how far need-based aid goes at each school.
Washington state grants
- Washington College Grant (WA Grant): For 2026–27, a full award is up to $13,203 a year at the University of Washington, $12,700 at Washington State University and $5,095 at community and technical colleges; middle-income students get a partial award (60%, 50%, 24.5% or 10%)
- College Bound Scholarship: Public college tuition, or an equivalent amount at an approved private college or career school, combined with the WA Grant
- Federal Pell Grant: up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Working while you study
$17.13/hour minimum wage
rises to $17.73 on 1 January 2027.
All four-year colleges in Washington
| College | Avg net price | Income under $30k | Graduate | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Columbia CollegeLongview · public | $7,341 | $6,526 | 22% | $16,320 |
| Stylemaster College of Hair DesignLongview · private | $8,232 | — | — | $7,917 |
| Northwest Indian CollegeBellingham · public | $9,346 | $9,378 | 22% | — |
| Bates Technical CollegeTacoma · public | $9,558 | $8,446 | 40% | $7,819 |
| Olympic CollegeBremerton · public | $10,370 | $8,702 | 33% | $12,500 |
| Heritage UniversityToppenish · private | $10,747 | $9,958 | 57% | $15,000 |
| Pacific Northwest Christian CollegeKennewick · private | $10,982 | $7,788 | — | — |
| Centralia Beauty CollegeCentralia · private | $11,611 | — | — | $9,032 |
| University of Washington-Tacoma CampusTacoma · public | $11,900 | $7,236 | 60% | $14,008 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Federal WayFederal Way · private | $12,404 | $8,529 | — | $6,211 |
| Grays Harbor CollegeAberdeen · public | $12,588 | $10,997 | 34% | $9,590 |
| Washington State UniversityPullman · public | $13,462 | $6,750 | 63% | $18,500 |
| Eastern Washington UniversityCheney · public | $13,647 | $9,938 | 43% | $18,000 |
| University of WashingtonSeattle · public | $13,663 | $7,610 | 85% | $14,008 |
| University of Washington-Bothell CampusBothell · public | $13,802 | $8,974 | 68% | $14,008 |
| Columbia Basin CollegePasco · public | $13,813 | $12,552 | 32% | $11,625 |
| Walla Walla Community CollegeWalla Walla · public | $14,397 | $12,432 | 38% | $14,586 |
| Northwest HVAC/R Training CenterSpokane · private | $14,463 | $12,419 | — | — |
| Summit Salon AcademyTacoma · private | $15,147 | $12,910 | — | $12,000 |
| Bellingham Technical CollegeBellingham · public | $15,746 | $13,853 | 46% | $12,000 |
| Wenatchee Valley CollegeWenatchee · public | $16,742 | $15,487 | 36% | $10,235 |
| International Beauty Education CenterSpokane · private | $16,842 | — | — | $6,333 |
| Big Bend Community CollegeMoses Lake · public | $16,900 | $15,795 | 35% | $12,000 |
| Centralia CollegeCentralia · public | $17,394 | — | 40% | — |
| Yakima Valley CollegeYakima · public | $17,448 | $16,715 | 29% | $12,500 |
| Whatcom Community CollegeBellingham · public | $17,524 | $15,776 | 39% | $9,500 |
| Clover Park Technical CollegeLakewood · public | $17,744 | $16,925 | 41% | $9,838 |
| Highline CollegeDes Moines · public | $18,053 | $16,701 | 38% | $9,820 |
| Aveda Institute Portland-Vancouver CampusVancouver · private | $18,213 | — | — | $7,306 |
| Bellevue CollegeBellevue · public | $18,271 | $16,145 | 31% | $10,756 |
| Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-EverettEverett · private | $18,415 | — | — | $6,619 |
| Everett Community CollegeEverett · public | $18,421 | $16,688 | 35% | $9,500 |
| Renton Technical CollegeRenton · public | $18,421 | $18,270 | 39% | — |
| Shoreline CollegeShoreline · public | $18,564 | $15,999 | 30% | $12,552 |
| Peninsula CollegePort Angeles · public | $18,576 | $17,378 | 45% | $13,951 |
| Clark CollegeVancouver · public | $18,625 | $16,539 | 36% | $11,234 |
| South Puget Sound Community CollegeOlympia · public | $18,745 | $16,736 | 44% | $12,000 |
| Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-ShorelineShoreline · private | $18,781 | — | — | $7,917 |
| Green River CollegeAuburn · public | $18,821 | $16,837 | 41% | $11,543 |
| Skagit Valley CollegeMount Vernon · public | $18,835 | $17,536 | 34% | $12,906 |
| South Seattle CollegeSeattle · public | $19,193 | $17,931 | 33% | — |
| Tacoma Community CollegeTacoma · public | $19,206 | $17,393 | 30% | $13,000 |
| Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane · public | $19,537 | $17,731 | 32% | $14,995 |
| Cascadia CollegeBothell · public | $19,544 | $15,907 | 38% | $9,600 |
| Victoria's Academy of CosmetologyKennewick · private | $19,753 | — | — | $7,928 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-SpokaneSpokane Valley · private | $19,879 | $19,824 | — | $10,435 |
| Western Washington UniversityBellingham · public | $19,963 | $12,600 | 61% | $16,500 |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute SeattleSeattle · private | $20,146 | — | — | $7,917 |
| Pierce College DistrictLakewood · public | $20,424 | $18,449 | 32% | $12,000 |
| Spokane Community CollegeSpokane · public | $20,482 | $18,586 | 33% | $14,396 |
| Pacific Lutheran UniversityTacoma · private | $20,652 | $13,627 | 64% | $19,500 |
| Perry Technical InstituteYakima · private | $21,006 | $19,029 | — | $12,372 |
| North Seattle CollegeSeattle · public | $21,037 | $19,710 | 30% | — |
| Seattle Central CollegeSeattle · public | $21,132 | $20,434 | 32% | $11,471 |
| Central Washington UniversityEllensburg · public | $21,201 | $15,410 | 51% | $19,170 |
| Northwest School of Wooden Boat BuildingPort Hadlock · private | $21,550 | — | — | — |
| Northwest UniversityKirkland · private | $22,071 | $19,797 | 67% | $21,500 |
| Faith International UniversityTacoma · private | $22,817 | — | 29% | $17,749 |
| Whitworth UniversitySpokane · private | $23,009 | $12,276 | 67% | $25,000 |
| Edmonds CollegeLynnwood · public | $24,646 | $22,997 | 23% | $12,424 |
| Zorganics Institute of Beauty and WellnessBellingham · private | $24,738 | — | — | — |
| Academy of Interactive EntertainmentSeattle · private | $24,742 | $25,611 | — | — |
| Studio Beauty SchoolSpokane Valley · private | $25,012 | — | — | $6,333 |
| The Evergreen State CollegeOlympia · public | $25,154 | $23,091 | 38% | $19,500 |
| Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle · private | $25,419 | $19,265 | 55% | $22,827 |
| Saint Martin's UniversityLacey · private | $25,472 | $19,685 | 56% | $22,500 |
| Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyKirkland · public | $25,594 | $23,814 | 38% | $12,000 |
| Northwest College of Art & DesignTacoma · private | $25,900 | $25,409 | 43% | $24,163 |
| Great Northern UniversitySpokane · private | $26,158 | — | 50% | — |
| Paul Mitchell the School-RichlandRichland · private | $26,484 | $25,701 | — | $7,917 |
| Elite Cosmetology Barber & Spa AcademyYakima · private | $27,665 | — | — | $7,000 |
| Walla Walla UniversityCollege Place · private | $27,786 | $27,683 | 58% | $25,712 |
| Whitman CollegeWalla Walla · private | $29,486 | $15,180 | 75% | $18,525 |
| UEI College-TacomaTacoma · private | $30,321 | $29,907 | — | $9,500 |
| Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended EducationKirkland · private | $31,325 | $27,539 | 36% | $21,500 |
| University of Puget SoundTacoma · private | $32,507 | $23,158 | 69% | $23,250 |
| Gonzaga UniversitySpokane · private | $32,750 | $24,657 | 85% | $21,500 |
| Seattle UniversitySeattle · private | $34,324 | $21,379 | 71% | $19,500 |
| Seattle Film InstituteSeattle · private | $36,589 | — | 75% | $20,000 |
| Divers Institute of TechnologySeattle · private | $37,767 | $37,808 | — | $9,500 |
| DigiPen Institute of TechnologyRedmond · private | $42,428 | $31,259 | 63% | $27,000 |
| Carrington College-SpokaneSpokane · private | $44,718 | $43,817 | — | $10,738 |
| Pima Medical Institute-RentonRenton · private | $49,097 | — | — | $9,500 |
| Pima Medical Institute-SeattleSeattle · private | $52,436 | — | — | $9,500 |
Linked colleges have a full funding guide. More are added every week.
Short of what aid covers?
Students in Washington use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors, and receive every dollar.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; state program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. Four-year, campus-based public and private nonprofit colleges with complete net-price data.