2026 Best Value Value Schools in Washington
[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value value schools.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Washington Seattle Campus the best value for a degree in value in Washington. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $70,392 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 Evergreen State College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the suburb of Olympia, The Evergreen State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,264, with out-of-state students paying around $31,905. Students borrow a median of $21,850 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of The Evergreen State College earn a median of $26,942 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,850 median debt. The Evergreen State College admits about 96% of applicants.
Seattle University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,721. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Seattle University earn a median of $68,749 early in their careers. Set against $22,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Seattle University admits about 77% of applicants.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
