Cheapest Political Science and Government Colleges in Washington

Political Science and Government programs in Washington show a striking $26,354 price gap between the most affordable option at University of Washington-Tacoma ($10,017) and the most expensive at Whitman College ($35,506). The state's public universities dominate affordability rankings, with five of the six cheapest options costing under $15,000 annually. Washington's political market offers graduates direct pathways into government careers, from state agencies in Olympia to federal positions in Seattle's regional offices. Earnings potential varies significantly across programs, ranging from $24,421 to $39,009, with Central Washington University graduates earning the highest median income despite the program's relatively low $14,715 net cost. The University of Washington system performs particularly well, with all three campuses offering strong value propositions and identical graduate earnings of $37,896.

Programs

$10,017 – $38,920

Net Price Range

$33,113

Avg. Program Earnings

66.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

16 Political Science and Government 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	Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	$18,680	$9,286	65.5%	92.7%
8	Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, Washington	$21,370	$50,964	71.0%	88.9%
9	Saint Martin's University Lacey, Washington	$22,618	$44,210	57.1%	95.0%
10	Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington	$24,820	$38,814	62.1%	90.7%
11	Northwest University Kirkland, Washington	$25,161	$36,035	63.5%	94.3%
12	Whitworth University Spokane, Washington	$25,884	$50,920	68.4%	90.5%
13	Seattle University Seattle, Washington	$34,802	$54,285	73.3%	85.2%
14	Whitman College Walla Walla, Washington	$35,506	$61,492	81.0%	47.7%
15	Gonzaga University Spokane, Washington	$36,371	$53,500	86.9%	69.7%
16	University of Puget Sound Tacoma, Washington	$38,920	$59,900	67.9%	82.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

UW-Tacoma charges just $10,017 in net costs while maintaining the same high graduate earnings as the main Seattle campus at $37,896. The campus accepts 88.35% of applicants and graduates 62.30% of students. Students benefit from the full University of Washington reputation and resources at a significantly lower cost than the Seattle campus.

How much do earnings vary between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

Graduate earnings span from $24,421 at Seattle Pacific University to $39,009 at Central Washington University, creating a $14,588 difference. Interestingly, the highest earners attend Central Washington University, which costs only $14,715 annually. Several expensive private schools like Seattle Pacific and Whitworth produce graduates earning less than those from much cheaper public universities.

Is the University of Washington system worth considering for Political Science?

All three UW campuses offer identical graduate earnings of $37,896, making them strong values in political science education. The Tacoma campus costs $10,017, Bothell costs $10,898, and Seattle costs $13,485. The Seattle campus has the highest graduation rate at 83.70% but also the most selective admissions at 47.52% acceptance.

Where can graduates find the best job opportunities in Washington?

Washington offers political science graduates opportunities in state government in Olympia, federal agencies with regional offices in Seattle, and policy roles with major employers like Amazon and Microsoft. The state's tech sector increasingly hires political science graduates for government relations and policy analysis positions. Boeing's defense contracts also create demand for graduates with government and regulatory expertise.

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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.