Cheapest Public Relations Colleges in Washington

Washington public universities deliver remarkable value for communications students, with the University of Washington-Seattle offering the state's most affordable net price at $13,485 despite its competitive 47.52% acceptance rate. The $22,886 gap between cheapest public and most expensive private options reflects the state's varied educational market. With Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing headquartered here, communications graduates enter a market where digital marketing expertise and corporate communications skills command strong demand across technology and aerospace sectors.

Programs

$13,485 – $36,371

Net Price Range

$39,794

Avg. Program Earnings

69.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

7 Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
2	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
3	Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington	$14,715	$9,192	49.9%	93.5%
4	Walla Walla University College Place, Washington	$23,992	$33,027	64.2%
5	Northwest University Kirkland, Washington	$25,161	$36,035	63.5%	94.3%
6	Seattle University Seattle, Washington	$34,802	$54,285	73.3%	85.2%
7	Gonzaga University Spokane, Washington	$36,371	$53,500	86.9%	69.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the dramatic cost difference between public and private communications programs?

Public universities like University of Washington-Seattle ($13,485) and Washington State University ($14,401) benefit from state funding that keeps costs low. Private institutions like Seattle University ($34,802) and Gonzaga University ($36,371) rely on tuition revenue, creating cost differences exceeding $20,000 annually.

How do graduation rates vary across Washington's communications programs?

Graduation rates span from Central Washington University's 49.90% to Gonzaga University's impressive 86.90%. The University of Washington-Seattle maintains an 83.70% graduation rate while keeping costs low, demonstrating that affordability doesn't compromise student success.

Does the Washington College Grant significantly impact program affordability?

The Washington College Grant covers full tuition at public colleges for qualifying students, making programs like Central Washington University essentially free for eligible residents. This explains why in-state costs ($9,192 at CWU) often fall well below net prices that factor in financial aid across all students.

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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.