At $22,585/yr net price, The Evergreen State College graduates earn $45,320/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $11,320/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $22,585 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $90,340 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,320/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$11,320/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 43.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,969/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,956/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,430/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,683/yr |
| $110,001+ | $25,934/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $55,770 | |
| Public Administration. | Master | $53,984 | |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Master | $42,682 | |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | Bachelor | $24,730 | $20,982 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $23,558 | $18,458 |
The Risk Factor
43.6% of students at The Evergreen State College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
The Evergreen State College leaves you with a weak financial return. Median earnings ten years out land below what you'd need to comfortably clear the debt you take on, and the price you pay each year makes that gap harder to justify. This is a school where the numbers do not add up in your favor.
The two bachelor-level programs with reported earnings data,Biological and Physical Sciences and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities,both pay under $25,000 a year. That's below the school-wide median a decade after enrolling, which tells you Evergreen's signature interdisciplinary and liberal arts tracks feed into low-paying work. Neither program clears the debt you'd carry out. If you're choosing between these two, the earnings difference is small enough to be noise. pick based on what you want to study, because neither is a paycheck bet.
The biggest risk here is finishing at all. Fewer than half of you graduate, and roughly a third don't return after the first year. If you leave with debt and no degree, you get the worst outcome: the bill without the credential. Olympia's regional job market won't rescue a liberal arts transcript, so the earnings ceiling is real.
The net price barely moves with income. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about the same as families earning over $110,000,the sliding scale you'd hope for at a public school isn't really there. Lower-income families get almost no price break, which makes the weak earnings sting more.
Evergreen fits you if you want its unusual academic model and you have a funding source that keeps your borrowing near zero. If you're taking on loans and counting on the degree to pay them back, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Evergreen State College worth the cost compared to other schools?
The Evergreen State College graduates earn $45,320 ten years after graduation, which is below the national average for college graduates. With a net price of $22,585 per year and a 44% graduation rate, the return on investment is weaker than most four-year colleges.
What programs at The Evergreen State College have the best job outcomes?
Teacher education graduates from The Evergreen State College earn around $55,770, making it the highest-paying program. Public administration ($53,984) and natural resources conservation ($42,682) also show decent returns, while liberal arts graduates average just $23,558.
How much debt do students typically graduate with from The Evergreen State College?
The median debt for The Evergreen State College graduates is $20,500, which is manageable compared to the national average. However, with lower-than-average earnings potential, even this debt level may be challenging to repay for some graduates.
Should I attend The Evergreen State College if I'm concerned about earning potential?
The Evergreen State College works best for students prioritizing the unique educational experience over high earnings. With below-average graduate salaries and a low graduation rate, students focused primarily on financial returns should consider other options.