Vancouver, Washington Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Vancouver, Washington: median public in-state tuition $8,838 (+55.0% vs national median) median graduate debt $11,234 (-16.8% vs U.S.) 5,067 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Vancouver serve students across Washington with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,067 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $8,838. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Vancouver, Washington and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Vancouver 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, Washington | $8,838 | $18,419 | $11,234 | 35.9% | 5,067 |
| Washington (state median) | $5,553 | $18,346 | $12,552 | 45.0% | 225,805 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Vancouver, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, Washington | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| Washington (state median) | $70,376 | 92.0% | 78.9% | 3.2% | — | 80.4% | 0.29 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, Washington | $8,838 | $18,419 | $11,234 | 35.9% | 5,067 | N/A | N/A |
| Seattle | $15,008 | $24,742 | $14,008 | 44.2% | 48,555 | $77,191 | 92.5% |
| Pullman | $12,963 | $13,462 | $18,500 | 62.8% | 21,099 | $72,280 | 93.0% |
| Bellingham | $5,342 | $17,524 | $12,000 | 42.6% | 18,319 | $64,305 | 92.2% |
| Tacoma | $13,577 | $20,652 | $14,008 | 43.5% | 15,903 | $71,514 | 91.3% |
| Spokane | $15,200 | $21,746 | $18,500 | 50.0% | 15,529 | $76,582 | 95.4% |
| Lakewood | $5,732 | $19,084 | $10,919 | 36.8% | 7,949 | N/A | N/A |
| Lakewood | $5,732 | $19,084 | $10,919 | 36.8% | 7,949 | N/A | N/A |
| Lakewood | $5,732 | $19,084 | $10,919 | 36.8% | 7,949 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
In-state tuition: Vancouver, Washington vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Vancouver, Washington median in-state tuition is $8,838, +55.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Vancouver, Washington vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Vancouver, Washington is $11,234 (-16.8% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $11,888.
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
Vancouver, Washington median public in-state tuition is $8,838, about +55.0% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +169.1%.
Median graduate debt is $11,234 (-16.8% below the U.S. median of $13,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Vancouver, Washington is 35.9% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Vancouver?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Vancouver, Washington with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Vancouver?
Median in-state tuition in Vancouver is $8,838 and median net price is $18,419. For Washington overall, medians are $5,553 and $18,346; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Vancouver?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Vancouver is N/A vs $70,376 for Washington and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Vancouver colleges?
Median completer debt in Vancouver is $11,234 vs $12,552 for Washington and $13,500 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Vancouver?
Among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Vancouver, Washington, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, none report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and none 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