Cheapest Psychology Colleges in Washington

University of Washington-Tacoma offers Psychology, General students the lowest net cost at $10,017 annually while maintaining solid career outcomes with graduates earning $33,789. The $28,803 gap between the most and least expensive programs reflects Washington's sharp divide between public universities and private colleges. Psychology graduates find opportunities across Washington's major sectors, from tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft requiring user experience researchers to the state's expanding healthcare systems. Eastern Washington University delivers strong value at $13,091 net cost with a 96.12% acceptance rate, making psychology education accessible. The University of Washington-Seattle Campus combines affordability at $13,485 with the state's highest graduation rate of 83.70%, preparing students for careers in a region where mental health professionals are increasingly needed to support growing urban populations.

Programs

$10,017 – $38,920

Net Price Range

$31,310

Avg. Program Earnings

63.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

18 Psychology, General 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	Heritage University Toppenish, Washington	$11,893	$19,920	39.8%
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	Walla Walla University College Place, Washington	$23,992	$33,027	64.2%
11	Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington	$24,820	$38,814	62.1%	90.7%
12	Northwest University Kirkland, Washington	$25,161	$36,035	63.5%	94.3%
13	Whitworth University Spokane, Washington	$25,884	$50,920	68.4%	90.5%
14	Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education Kirkland, Washington	$26,734	$14,652	30.8%
15	Seattle University Seattle, Washington	$34,802	$54,285	73.3%	85.2%
16	Whitman College Walla Walla, Washington	$35,506	$61,492	81.0%	47.7%
17	Gonzaga University Spokane, Washington	$36,371	$53,500	86.9%	69.7%
18	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 psychology program?

UW-Tacoma offers the lowest net cost at $10,017 while maintaining strong outcomes with graduates earning $33,789 annually. Students carry just $14,342 in debt upon graduation, well below the state average. The campus provides access to University of Washington resources at a fraction of the Seattle campus cost, with an 88.35% acceptance rate making admission accessible.

How do public university psychology programs compare to private colleges in cost?

Public universities dominate the most affordable options, with six of the seven lowest-cost programs being state institutions. The gap is significant: Eastern Washington University costs $13,091 while Seattle University requires $34,802 annually. Private colleges like Pacific Lutheran University do offer higher average earnings at $37,054, but students face substantially higher debt loads averaging over $20,000.

Does Washington's tech industry create psychology career opportunities?

Major employers like Amazon and Microsoft increasingly hire psychology graduates for user experience research, data analysis, and organizational development roles. The state's tech sector values understanding human behavior and decision-making processes. Psychology graduates from University of Washington programs earn $33,789 on average, reflecting the region's strong job market and higher wages compared to national averages.

Where can students find the best value among Washington psychology programs?

Eastern Washington University offers strong value at $13,091 net cost with a 96.12% acceptance rate, making quality education accessible. University of Washington-Seattle provides the highest graduation rate at 83.70% for just $13,485 annually. Both programs prepare students for Washington's job market while keeping debt manageable, with graduates earning between $29,000-$34,000 starting salaries.

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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.