2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in Washington
[Graphic Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/graphic-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for graphic design students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Graphic Design Schools in Washington
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the graphic design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Graphic Design Schools
University Of Washington Seattle Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value graphic design schools in Washington. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $12,250. Early-career graphic design graduates make about $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington State University earned it the #2 place for graphic design. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $22,802. Soon after graduation, graphic design degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $44,823. Set against $22,802 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Walla Walla University one of the best values for graphic design. Walla Walla University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of College Place. Students from in state pay about $34,227 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for graphic design graduates is $28,000. Graphic Design graduates of Walla Walla University earn a median of $28,436 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 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.
