Olympia, Washington Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Olympia, Washington: median public in-state tuition $7,258 (+31.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $45,320 (-16.7% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 80.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,750 (+18.7% vs U.S.) 5,235 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 5,235 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $7,258 (+31.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $45,320 (-16.7% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 80.3% (-7.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,726 (+67.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,750 (+18.7% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,537
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 42.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 69.9%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Olympia serve students across Washington with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,235 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $7,258. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Olympia, Washington and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Olympia vs Washington & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, Washington | $7,258 | $16,726 | $15,750 | 42.2% | 5,235 |
| Washington (state median) | $5,356 | $9,863 | $13,653 | 46.0% | 225,805 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Olympia, Washington vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, Washington | $45,320 | 80.3% | 69.9% | 4.6% | 0.10% | 60.4% | 0.45 |
| Washington (state median) | $64,506 | 90.3% | 78.9% | 3.2% | — | 80.4% | 0.34 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Washington (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, Washington | $7,258 | $16,726 | $15,750 | 42.2% | 5,235 | $45,320 | 80.3% |
| Seattle | $15,201 | $24,488 | $13,000 | 57.1% | 48,555 | $72,366 | 90.0% |
| Pullman | $12,534 | $14,971 | $19,500 | 60.5% | 21,099 | $68,905 | 91.7% |
| Bellingham | $4,773 | $11,795 | $17,459 | 39.0% | 18,319 | $62,569 | 90.3% |
| Tacoma | $13,168 | $19,589 | $16,132 | 57.7% | 15,903 | $68,292 | 89.7% |
| Spokane | $14,784 | $19,222 | $15,825 | 50.0% | 15,529 | $68,726 | 93.9% |
| Lakewood | $6,026 | $10,043 | $12,056 | 36.8% | 7,949 | N/A | N/A |
| Lakewood | $6,026 | $10,043 | $12,056 | 36.8% | 7,949 | N/A | N/A |
| Lakewood | $6,026 | $10,043 | $12,056 | 36.8% | 7,949 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Olympia, Washington by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 40.7%, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Top college in Olympia, Washington by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 80.3%, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Most selective college in Olympia, Washington (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 96.4%, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Top college in Olympia, Washington by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $27,555, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Top college in Olympia, Washington by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $48,623, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Top college in Olympia, Washington by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $34,774, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Top college in Olympia, Washington by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $40,332, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Top college in Olympia, Washington by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,320, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Top college in Olympia, Washington by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $79,210, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Most affordable college in Olympia, Washington (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $24,319, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
Top college in Olympia, Washington by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 69.9%, The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
In-state tuition: Olympia, Washington vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Olympia, Washington median in-state tuition is $7,258, +31.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Olympia, Washington vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Olympia, Washington is $15,750 (+18.7% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,537.
Median earnings (10 years out): Olympia, Washington vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Olympia, Washington center around $45,320 (-16.7% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Olympia, Washington vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 80.3% at the median Olympia, Washington campus (-7.7 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Olympia, Washington median public in-state tuition is $7,258, about +31.7% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +121.0%.
Median graduate debt is $15,750 (+18.7% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Olympia, Washington are $45,320, about -16.7% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 80.3% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-7.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 69.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr default 0.10% (U.S. median N/A); 3-yr repayment progress 60.4% (U.S. 73.7%).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include The Evergreen State College (80.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Olympia, Washington is 42.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Olympia?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Olympia, Washington with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Olympia?
Median in-state tuition in Olympia is $7,258 and median net price is $16,726. For Washington overall, medians are $5,356 and $9,863; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Olympia?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Olympia is $45,320 vs $64,506 for Washington and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Olympia colleges?
Median completer debt in Olympia is $15,750 vs $13,653 for Washington and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Olympia?
Top campuses on this page include The Evergreen State College (graduation) and The Evergreen State College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Olympia?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Olympia, Washington, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Washington college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON