Spokane, Washington Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Spokane, Washington shows: median public in-state tuition $14,784 (+168.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $68,726 (+26.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 93.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $18,149 (+35.1% vs U.S.) 15,383 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 10 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 15,383 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $14,784 (+168.2% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $68,726 (+26.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 93.9% (+6.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $21,029 (+111.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $18,149 (+35.1% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 50.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 85.2%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Spokane, Washington—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Washington and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Spokane 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, Washington | $14,784 | $21,029 | $18,149 | 50.0% | 15,383 |
| Washington (state median) | $5,356 | $9,863 | $13,653 | 46.4% | 226,333 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Spokane, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, Washington | $68,726 | 93.9% | 85.2% | 2.4% | — | 83.9% | 0.37 |
| Washington (state median) | $63,538 | 90.2% | 78.3% | 3.2% | — | 80.4% | 0.34 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, Washington | $14,784 | $21,029 | $18,149 | 50.0% | 15,383 | $68,726 | 93.9% |
| Seattle | $20,500 | $27,752 | $13,808 | 56.8% | 49,043 | $69,460 | 89.3% |
| Bellingham | $4,773 | $11,795 | $17,459 | 39.0% | 18,319 | $62,569 | 90.3% |
| Tacoma | $13,168 | $21,126 | $14,615 | 57.7% | 15,943 | $68,292 | 89.7% |
| Everett | $5,032 | $12,416 | $10,417 | 36.6% | 5,881 | N/A | N/A |
| Vancouver | $8,585 | $11,465 | $10,881 | 39.0% | 5,067 | N/A | N/A |
| Yakima | $5,312 | $14,513 | $13,966 | 29.3% | 3,960 | N/A | N/A |
| Kirkland | $14,652 | $22,288 | $20,891 | 50.0% | 3,456 | $54,914 | 90.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, 86.3%, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 70.9%, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, 94.7%, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 93.2%, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Spokane, 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, 81.7%, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 89.8%, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, $84,466, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $78,417, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, $121,512, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $99,842, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, $66,525, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $49,510, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, $76,082, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $56,792, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, $78,892, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,561, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, $188,434, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $146,270, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Spokane, 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, $26,534, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $35,119, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Top 10 colleges in Spokane, 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, 92.9%, Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 77.6%, Whitworth University
Whitworth University
In-state tuition: Spokane, Washington vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Spokane, Washington median in-state tuition is $14,784, +168.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Spokane, Washington vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Spokane, Washington is $18,149 (+35.1% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Spokane, Washington vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Spokane, Washington center around $68,726 (+26.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Spokane, Washington vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 93.9% at the median Spokane, Washington campus (+6.0 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
Spokane, Washington median public in-state tuition is $14,784, about +168.2% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +350.2%.
Median graduate debt is $18,149 (+35.1% above the U.S. median of $13,432). 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 Spokane, Washington are $68,726, about +26.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 93.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+6.0 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 85.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.4% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 83.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Gonzaga University (94.7%), Whitworth University (93.2%)—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 Spokane, Washington is 50.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Spokane?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 10 campuses in Spokane, Washington with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Spokane?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Spokane is $14,784 and median net price is $21,029. For Washington overall, medians are $5,356 and $9,863; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Spokane?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Spokane is $68,726 vs $63,538 for Washington and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Spokane colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Spokane is $18,149 vs $13,653 for Washington and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Spokane?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Gonzaga University (graduation) and Gonzaga University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Spokane?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 10 campuses in Spokane, Washington, 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Presbyterian (2), Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- Washington college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON