Washington College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

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Tuition trends by school type and level for Washington colleges

There are 69 four-year colleges and universities in Washington—41 public institutions and 28 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $6,709, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $13,957. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 4.30% and out-of-state costs changed by 3.80%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 24.65% (in-state) and 23.71% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $32,437 in 2025. That is a 3.96% change from last year and 14.66% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $15,753, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $30,470. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 1.92% and out-of-state costs changed by 2.09%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 23.43% (in-state) and 22.21% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $24,052 in 2025. That is a 5.65% change from last year and 34.44% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by 3.96% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 4.30% (higher by 0.34 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by 3.80% (lower by 0.16 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 14.66%, compared with public in-state 24.65% (higher by 9.99 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 23.71% (higher by 9.05 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 5.65% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by 1.92% (lower by 3.73 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by 2.09% (lower by 3.56 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by 34.44%, compared with public graduate in-state 23.43% (lower by 11.01 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 22.21% (lower by 12.24 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $25,488 (public in-state), $32,736 (public out-of-state), and $51,216 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 5.40%, 4.93%, and 4.62%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 43.10% (public in-state), 38.06% (public out-of-state), and 25.78% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $27,880 (public in-state), $35,127 (public out-of-state), and $53,608 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by 7.01%, 6.24%, and 5.48%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 51.70% (public in-state), 44.69% (public out-of-state), and 29.84% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of Washington Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in Washington from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in Washington and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)
For Washington public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $6,709 which has increased by 24.65% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $13,957 which has risen by 23.71%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.37% while last year increase rate was 3.80%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Washington Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$5,315$5,048$5,186$5,594$5,448$5,868$6,005$6,163$6,433$6,709
Year-to-Year Rates-1.25%-5.01%2.73%7.86%-2.60%7.71%2.34%2.62%4.38%4.30%
Cumulative Rates-1.25%-6.21%-3.65%3.93%1.22%9.03%11.58%14.50%19.51%24.65%
Out-of-State Costs$11,422$10,873$10,805$11,787$11,257$12,265$12,542$13,008$13,446$13,957
Year-to-Year Rates1.24%-4.81%-0.63%9.10%-4.50%8.96%2.26%3.71%3.37%3.80%
Cumulative Rates1.24%-3.62%-4.23%4.48%-0.22%8.71%11.17%15.30%19.18%23.71%
For private schools in Washington state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $32,437 which has increased by 14.66% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 1.47% while last year increase rate was 3.96%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Washington Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$29,218$29,405$30,357$29,377$31,581$30,091$29,214$30,132$31,202$32,437
Year-to-Year Rates3.28%0.64%3.24%-3.23%7.50%-4.72%-2.91%3.14%3.55%3.96%
Cumulative Rates3.28%3.94%7.31%3.84%11.63%6.36%3.27%6.51%10.29%14.66%
The average graduate school tuition & fees of Washington public schools are $15,753 which has increased by 23.43% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $30,470 which has risen by 22.21%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.22% while last year increase rate was 2.09%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Washington Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$12,951$13,061$12,989$13,315$14,596$14,063$14,375$15,045$15,456$15,753
Year-to-Year Rates1.48%0.85%-0.55%2.51%9.62%-3.65%2.22%4.66%2.74%1.92%
Cumulative Rates1.48%2.34%1.77%4.33%14.36%10.19%12.63%17.88%21.11%23.43%
Out-of-State Costs$25,193$25,365$25,159$25,816$28,056$27,208$27,745$29,159$29,846$30,470
Year-to-Year Rates1.04%0.68%-0.81%2.61%8.68%-3.03%1.98%5.10%2.36%2.09%
Cumulative Rates1.04%1.73%0.90%3.54%12.53%9.12%11.28%16.95%19.70%22.21%
For private graduate schools in Washington state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $24,052 which has increased by 34.44% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 3.44437% while last year increase rate was 5.65%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Washington Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$18,543$19,935$20,968$21,537$21,028$21,019$21,296$22,229$22,766$24,052
Year-to-Year Rates3.65%7.51%5.18%2.71%-2.36%-0.05%1.32%4.38%2.41%5.65%
Cumulative Rates3.65%11.43%17.21%20.39%17.54%17.49%19.04%24.25%27.25%34.44%
You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at Washington college cost trends.