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Washington State University
Admission at Washington State University is close to open (86.6%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $68,905 median earnings below before the application.
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Washington State University anchors the college town of Pullman, WA, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $119,686 four years out. 27.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 21,099 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 78.3% of first-years come back for a second year.
Washington State University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Washington State University received 26,166 applications and admitted 22,335 (85.4%), with 4,249 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. Washington State University's 86.6% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How Washington State University compares
| Washington State University | Washington median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 86.6% | 83.2% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $13,391 | $19,614 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $68,905 | $62,092 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Washington State University: $68,905 median at year ten, versus $62,092 across Washington institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $13,391 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $29,950. For non-residents, Washington State University's $29,950 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Washington State University is a big school: 21,099 undergraduates at last count.
60.5% graduate within six years. Roughly 40% don't — ask a Washington State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Washington State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $119,686 |
| Computer Engineering | $114,635 |
| Construction Management | $107,531 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $104,354 |
| Chemical Engineering | $99,506 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $93,971 |
| Civil Engineering | $91,879 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,495 |
| Materials Engineering | $86,145 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $86,012 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $85,967 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $81,321 |
| International Business | $77,598 |
| Marketing | $76,595 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $76,384 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $75,980 |
| Economics | $70,215 |
| Applied Mathematics | $70,085 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $69,708 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $69,224 |
| Food Science and Technology | $68,719 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $68,583 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $67,647 |
| Political Science and Government | $67,264 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $66,874 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $63,631 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $63,052 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $62,747 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $62,406 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $62,126 |
| Social Sciences, General | $61,617 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $61,304 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $60,950 |
| Biology, General | $60,418 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $58,834 |
| Journalism | $58,795 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $58,688 |
| History | $58,415 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $57,956 |
| Sociology | $57,846 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $56,880 |
| Psychology, General | $56,681 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $55,687 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $55,403 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $52,765 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $50,745 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $45,002 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $43,876 |
| Anthropology | $42,888 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $41,888 |
| Animal Sciences | $41,634 |
| Music | $41,181 |
Median earnings for these 52 Washington State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $68,905 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 37 additional Washington State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Washington State University?
Washington State University doesn't look at test scores; its 86.6% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Washington State University's acceptance rate?
85.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 22,335 admitted from 26,166 applicants.
How much does Washington State University cost?
In-state tuition is $13,391; out-of-state students pay $29,950. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Washington State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $68,905 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Washington
- Western Washington University — 93.3% admitted
- Whitworth University — 89.8% admitted
- Saint Martin's University — 89.8% admitted
- The Evergreen State College — 96.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.