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2024 Best Value Colleges for Economics in Washington

11 Ranked Colleges
713 Degrees Awarded
$22,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Economics Schools in Washington

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Economics Schools in Washington” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 49,055 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,736 and had an average of $22,046 in loans still to pay off.

Across Washington, there were 713 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,141 and $22,141 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools in Washington” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent economics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Economics Schools in Washington” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Economics Schools in Washington

The colleges and universities below are the best for washington economics students.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Economics in Washington

1

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 309 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” list. It costs about $12,017 for Washington Economics students per year to attend UW Seattle.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Economics at UW Seattle

2
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Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Washington University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Value Economics Schools in Washington list. WWU is located in Bellingham, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

WWU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Washington University is $17,070 for Washington Economics students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Western Washington University Economics Report

3
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Economics Schools in Washington. Located in Pullman, Washington, this large public school awarded 87 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our washington economics students list, Wazzu has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wazzu is $15,300 for Washington Economics students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Wazzu Economics Report

4
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Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Washington University landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Ellensburg, Washington, and it awarded 18 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CWU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $16,514 for washington economics students per year to attend Central Washington University.

Full Central Washington University Economics Report

5
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Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in Washington that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Washington University landed the #5 spot on the list. Eastern Washington University is a public institution located in Cheney, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

EWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” list. The estimated yearly cost for EWU is $12,335 for Washington Economics students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Eastern Washington University

6
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Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, Washington

Seattle Pacific University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in Washington list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.

SPU also made our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend SPU is $26,714 for Washington Economics students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at SPU

7
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Whitworth University
Spokane, Washington

Whitworth University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in Washington list. This small school is located in Spokane, Washington, and it awarded 25 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our washington economics students list, Whitworth has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Whitworth University is $24,492 for Washington Economics students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Whitworth Economics Report

8
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Gonzaga University
Spokane, Washington

Gonzaga University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Economics Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Spokane, Washington, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gonzaga, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gonzaga University is $34,451 for Washington Economics students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Gonzaga Economics Report

9
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Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington

Pacific Lutheran University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in Washington list. Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tacoma, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at PLU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $23,024 for Washington Economics students per year to attend PLU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Pacific Lutheran University

10
Puget Sound crest
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington

University of Puget Sound did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Economics Schools in Washington ranking, coming in at #10. University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Puget Sound also took the #3 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” ranking. It costs about $33,562 for washington economics students per year to attend Puget Sound.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Economics at University of Puget Sound

11
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Whitman College
Walla Walla, Washington

Whitman College landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Value Economics Schools in Washington ranking. Whitman is a small school located in Walla Walla, Washington that handed out 35 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Whitman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Economics Schools in Washington” list. The yearly cost to attend Whitman College is $35,894 for washington economics students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Whitman

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