2026 Best Value Social Studies Education Schools in Washington
[Social Studies Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for social studies education students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Social Studies Education Schools in Washington
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social studies education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Studies Education Schools
Leading the list is Eastern Washington University, our #1 best value for social studies education in Washington. Eastern Washington University is a large public school located in the town of Cheney. In-state tuition and fees average $8,586, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Social Studies Education graduates carry a median of $23,009 in student loans. Early-career social studies education graduates make about $41,914. Set against $23,009 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social studies education schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Social Studies Education graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Social Studies Education graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Washington University earned it the #3 place for social studies education. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Social Studies Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career social studies education graduates make about $41,118. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
