2026 Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in Washington
[Ethnic Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/ethnic-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong ethnic studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for ethnic studies students.
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Featured Ethnic Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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2026 Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in ethnic studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Ethnic Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Washington Seattle Campus the best value for a degree in ethnic studies in Washington. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $15,056 to complete the ethnic studies program here. Early-career ethnic studies graduates make about $31,459. Set against $15,056 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Students looking for strong value in ethnic studies will find it at Western Washington University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,582, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $20,361 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $41,118. That is a strong return on a $20,361 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in ethnic studies will find it at Seattle Pacific University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,407. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $52,713. Set against $25,188 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Seattle Pacific University admits about 83% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in ethnic studies will find it at University Of Puget Sound, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,898. Ethnic Studies graduates carry a median of $21,215 in student loans. Soon after graduation, ethnic studies degree recipients from University Of Puget Sound generally make around $25,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
