Cheapest Design and Applied Arts Colleges in Washington

Design and Applied Arts education in Washington spans from $3,912 at technical colleges to $39,060 at private arts schools, creating one of the widest cost ranges in higher education. Clover Park Technical College offers the state's most affordable option, while graduates from the University of Washington earn the highest median salary at $57,318 annually. Washington's design job market benefits from major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft seeking UX designers, plus Boeing's aerospace design needs. The Washington College Grant program covers full tuition at public colleges for qualifying students, making schools like Lake Washington Institute of Technology particularly attractive with net costs under $6,000. Three schools maintain graduation rates above 65 percent, with Seattle University leading at 73.3 percent despite higher costs.

Programs

$3,912 – $39,060

Net Price Range

$41,358

Avg. Program Earnings

54.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

15 Design and Applied Arts Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, Washington	$3,912	$6,634	40.7%
2	Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, Washington	$5,886	$5,156	39.8%
3	Highline College Des Moines, Washington	$10,878	$4,623	38.6%
4	Bellevue College Bellevue, Washington	$11,289	$4,305	33.5%
5	Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington	$13,091	$8,353	47.2%	96.1%
6	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
7	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
8	Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington	$14,715	$9,192	49.9%	93.5%
9	Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	$18,680	$9,286	65.5%	92.7%
10	Northwest College of Art & Design Tacoma, Washington	$20,185	$18,100	36.4%	67.9%
11	Walla Walla University College Place, Washington	$23,992	$33,027	64.2%
12	Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington	$24,820	$38,814	62.1%	90.7%
13	Whitworth University Spokane, Washington	$25,884	$50,920	68.4%	90.5%
14	Seattle University Seattle, Washington	$34,802	$54,285	73.3%	85.2%
15	Cornish College of the Arts Seattle, Washington	$39,060	$39,913	52.0%	71.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Washington's cheapest design schools worth considering?

Clover Park Technical College and Lake Washington Institute of Technology offer professional training for under $6,000 annually. Lake Washington graduates earn $49,729 median salary, nearly matching four-year university outcomes. Both schools focus on hands-on skills that align with Washington's tech and aerospace industries.

How do public university design programs compare cost-wise?

Public universities range from $8,353 in-state at Eastern Washington to $12,997 at Washington State University. The University of Washington costs $12,643 in-state but delivers the highest graduate earnings at $57,318. Central Washington University offers middle-ground pricing at $9,192 with a solid 49.9 percent graduation rate.

Is the earnings gap between cheap and expensive schools significant?

Graduate earnings vary dramatically from $23,579 at Northwest College of Art & Design to $57,318 at University of Washington. Several affordable options like Lake Washington Institute ($49,729) and Western Washington University ($46,087) produce competitive salaries. The most expensive school, Cornish College, only generates $33,993 median earnings despite $39,060 annual costs.

Does the Washington College Grant make public schools essentially free?

The grant covers full tuition at public colleges for families earning up to 70 percent of state median income. Students still pay for housing, books, and living expenses, which explains why net costs range from $3,912 to $18,680 even at public schools. Seattle area schools face higher living costs despite the same tuition rates.

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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.