Best Value Sociology Colleges in Washington

Eastern Washington University delivers the lowest net cost for Sociology at $13,091 while University of Washington Seattle graduates earn $36,968 annually, creating a $6,659 earnings gap between the state's most affordable and highest-earning programs. Public universities dominate the value equation, with five of the top six programs charging under $19,000 net cost. Washington's tech-driven economy and healthcare expansion create strong demand for sociology graduates who understand data analysis and human behavior patterns. The 13 programs span from small liberal arts colleges to major research universities, with graduation rates varying dramatically from 47% to 87% across institutions.

Programs

$13,091 – $38,920

Net Price Range

$31,566

Avg. Program Earnings

67.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

13 Sociology Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$36,968	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
2	Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington	$14,715	$36,308	$9,192	49.9%	93.5%
3	Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington	$13,091	$30,409	$8,353	47.2%	96.1%
4	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$27,048	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
5	Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, Washington	$21,370	$35,420	$50,964	71.0%	88.9%
6	Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	$18,680	$30,119	$9,286	65.5%	92.7%
7	Whitworth University Spokane, Washington	$25,884	$28,055	$50,920	68.4%	90.5%
8	Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington	$24,820	$26,353	$38,814	62.1%	90.7%
9	Whitman College Walla Walla, Washington	$35,506	$33,993	$61,492	81.0%	47.7%
10	Gonzaga University Spokane, Washington	$36,371	$30,988	$53,500	86.9%	69.7%
11	University of Puget Sound Tacoma, Washington	$38,920		$59,900	67.9%	82.7%
12	Seattle University Seattle, Washington	$34,802		$54,285	73.3%	85.2%
13	Walla Walla University College Place, Washington	$23,992		$33,027	64.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Washington Seattle worth its $13,485 net cost?

UW Seattle graduates earn $36,968 annually, the highest among all 13 programs, while maintaining an 83.70% graduation rate. The combination of strong alumni networks in Seattle's tech sector and rigorous academic standards justifies the moderate cost increase over other public options.

How do private college costs compare to earnings potential?

Private colleges charge $21,370 to $38,920 in net costs but show mixed earnings results. Pacific Lutheran graduates earn $35,420 annually while paying $21,370 net, offering better value than Seattle Pacific's $24,820 cost for $26,353 earnings.

Does graduation rate correlate with program cost in Washington?

Higher-cost programs generally show better completion rates, with Gonzaga at 86.90% graduation rate and $36,371 net cost. However, Eastern Washington achieves the lowest net cost at $13,091 but graduates only 47.20% of students within six years.

Where do Washington sociology graduates find the best job markets?

Seattle area programs benefit from proximity to Amazon, Microsoft, and healthcare systems that value sociological research skills. Western Washington University in Bellingham costs $18,680 net and produces graduates earning $30,119, reflecting the regional job market strength.

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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.