Best Value Mechanical Engineering Colleges in Washington

Washington's Mechanical Engineering programs reveal a stark cost divide between public and private options. The University of Washington-Tacoma Campus delivers the lowest net cost at $10,017, while Gonzaga University charges $36,371. This $26,000 gap becomes more meaningful when considering that Washington hosts Boeing's commercial airplane headquarters and major tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon, all requiring mechanical engineers. Washington State University graduates command the highest median earnings at $64,951, nearly $9,200 more than Eastern Washington University's $55,770. The state's Washington College Grant helps bridge affordability gaps for qualifying students at public institutions.

Programs

$10,017 – $36,371

Net Price Range

$60,294

Avg. Program Earnings

65.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

11 Mechanical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, Washington	$10,898	$61,218	$12,559	68.2%	88.1%
2	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$61,218	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
3	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$64,951	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
4	Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington	$13,091	$55,770	$8,353	47.2%	96.1%
5	Saint Martin's University Lacey, Washington	$22,618	$57,995	$44,210	57.1%	95.0%
6	Gonzaga University Spokane, Washington	$36,371	$61,859	$53,500	86.9%	69.7%
7	Seattle University Seattle, Washington	$34,802	$59,045	$54,285	73.3%	85.2%
8	Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington	$14,715		$9,192	49.9%	93.5%
9	Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington	$24,820		$38,814	62.1%	90.7%
10	Walla Walla University College Place, Washington	$23,992		$33,027	64.2%
11	University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, Washington	$10,017		$12,817	62.3%	88.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Washington State University stand out for earnings despite higher costs?

WSU graduates earn a median $64,951, the highest among Washington's mechanical engineering programs. This premium of nearly $4,000 over the University of Washington's $61,218 helps justify WSU's $14,401 net cost.

How do the University of Washington campuses compare in value?

UW-Tacoma offers the lowest net cost at $10,017, while UW-Bothell costs $10,898 and UW-Seattle $13,485. All three UW campuses report identical median earnings of $61,218, making Tacoma the clear value leader.

Is private school debt worth it for mechanical engineering in Washington?

Private schools like Gonzaga and Seattle University charge over $30,000 net but offer stronger graduation rates. Gonzaga achieves 86.90% graduation versus 61.60% at Washington State University, though both produce similar earnings around $62,000.

Where can students find the most affordable mechanical engineering education?

Eastern Washington University offers the lowest in-state tuition at $8,353, followed by Central Washington at $9,192. However, UW-Tacoma provides better overall value with just $10,017 net cost and significantly higher earning potential.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.