Cheapest Mechanical Engineering Colleges in Washington

Public universities dominate Washington's most affordable mechanical engineering options, with University of Washington-Tacoma offering the lowest net cost at $10,017 annually. The price gap between public and private programs spans over $26,000, yet graduates from programs like Washington State University earn $64,951 annually. This matters in a state where Boeing maintains major manufacturing operations and tech giants like Amazon drive demand for mechanical engineers in product development and automation. Eastern Washington University stands out with a 96.12% acceptance rate despite producing graduates who enter a job market where mechanical engineers support everything from aerospace manufacturing to renewable energy projects across the Pacific Northwest.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Washington-Tacoma the most affordable option for mechanical engineering?

UW-Tacoma charges just $10,017 in net costs annually, making it the cheapest program in the state. The campus maintains an 88.35% acceptance rate while delivering the same degree quality as the main Seattle campus.

How do graduation rates compare between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

Gonzaga University, the most expensive at $36,371 net cost, achieves an 86.90% graduation rate. In contrast, Eastern Washington University at $13,091 net cost has a 47.20% graduation rate, showing higher costs often correlate with better completion rates.

Is the Washington College Grant available for mechanical engineering students?

Yes, the Washington College Grant covers full tuition at public colleges for qualifying students. This can reduce costs significantly since in-state tuition ranges from $8,353 at Eastern Washington to $12,997 at Washington State University.

What salary can mechanical engineering graduates expect in Washington?

Graduates earn between $55,770 and $64,951 annually depending on their program. Washington State University graduates command the highest starting salaries at $64,951, while Eastern Washington graduates start at $55,770.

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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.