Cheapest Economics Colleges in Washington

Eastern Washington University delivers economics education for just $13,091 annually, making it Washington's most affordable option by a significant margin. The $25,829 gap between EWU and the next cheapest program at University of Washington demonstrates how location affects pricing even within public institutions. Washington's tech-heavy economy, anchored by Amazon and Microsoft, creates strong demand for economics graduates who understand market dynamics and data analysis. Graduates from the state's top economics programs earn between $32,569 and $57,318, with Seattle University leading at the higher end despite being among the most expensive programs.

Programs

$13,091 – $38,920

Net Price Range

$43,617

Avg. Program Earnings

68.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

12 Economics Programs

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Washington-Seattle such good value despite higher costs?

UW-Seattle charges $13,485 net but delivers $51,035 in graduate earnings, creating strong return on investment. The 83.70% graduation rate ranks second highest among all programs, while the 47.52% acceptance rate makes it the most selective public option.

How do private school economics programs compare on affordability?

Private programs range from $21,370 at Pacific Lutheran to $38,920 at University of Puget Sound. Seattle University graduates earn the highest salaries at $57,318 annually, while Whitman College achieves 81% graduation rates despite moderate earnings of $42,682.

Does geographic location within Washington affect program costs significantly?

Eastern Washington in Cheney offers the lowest net price at $13,091, while Seattle-area programs like UW cost $13,485 net. Private schools in smaller cities like Pacific Lutheran ($21,370) cost less than Seattle University ($34,802).

What debt levels should economics students expect after graduation?

Debt varies from $14,488 at University of Washington to $25,989 at Seattle Pacific University. Public universities generally produce lower debt loads, with Central Washington at $14,744 and Western Washington at $18,500.

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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.