Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $63,444, placing Central Washington University in the 63.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,175 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central Washington University in the 70.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Central Washington University #629 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to WA's no-degree earnings baseline of $36,819 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential. The earnings pattern at Central Washington University is anchored by its Business concentration, with program-mix strength spread across Business (22%), Education (15%), and Social Sciences (9%). Business Administration stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining cohort scale with solid four-year earnings. Business Administration, the largest program by graduate count with 257 graduates, posts median four-year earnings of $73,036, and Azimuth ranks it #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Teacher Education (246 graduates, $59,659 median four-year earnings) and Psychology, General (181 graduates, $54,530) round out the core of the institution's earnings profile, while Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Criminal Justice extend the range into fields where early-career pay is more moderate but hiring demand remains steady.
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $63,444, placing Central Washington University in the 63.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,175 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central Washington University in the 70.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Central Washington University #629 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to WA's no-degree earnings baseline of $36,819 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential. The earnings pattern at Central Washington University is anchored by its Business concentration, with program-mix strength spread across Business (22%), Education (15%), and Social Sciences (9%). Business Administration stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining cohort scale with solid four-year earnings. Business Administration, the largest program by graduate count with 257 graduates, posts median four-year earnings of $73,036, and Azimuth ranks it #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Teacher Education (246 graduates, $59,659 median four-year earnings) and Psychology, General (181 graduates, $54,530) round out the core of the institution's earnings profile, while Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Criminal Justice extend the range into fields where early-career pay is more moderate but hiring demand remains steady.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $63,444, placing Central Washington University in the 63.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,175 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central Washington University in the 70.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Central Washington University #629 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to WA's no-degree earnings baseline of $36,819 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential. The earnings pattern at Central Washington University is anchored by its Business concentration, with program-mix strength spread across Business (22%), Education (15%), and Social Sciences (9%). Business Administration stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining cohort scale with solid four-year earnings. Business Administration, the largest program by graduate count with 257 graduates, posts median four-year earnings of $73,036, and Azimuth ranks it #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Teacher Education (246 graduates, $59,659 median four-year earnings) and Psychology, General (181 graduates, $54,530) round out the core of the institution's earnings profile, while Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Criminal Justice extend the range into fields where early-career pay is more moderate but hiring demand remains steady.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Central Washington University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful enrollment across education, health, and applied social sciences — a signature consistent with a regional public university serving the workforce needs of central Washington. Business accounts for 22% of graduates, followed by Education at 15% and Social Sciences at 9%, reflecting a broad, professionally oriented degree portfolio. Across 64 programs serving roughly 2,579 students annually, the institution concentrates its degree output in fields with direct regional labor-market demand. The program combining the largest graduate cohort with strong earnings outcomes is Business Administration, which functions as a core economic driver for Central Washington University graduates. Among the most-enrolled programs, Business Administration program graduates 257 students with median earnings of $73,036 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Teacher Education and Psychology, General also enroll large cohorts — 246 and 181 graduates respectively — with four-year median earnings of $59,659 and $54,530, reflecting the institution's strength in applied professional fields tied to how Azimuth evaluates programs. The highest-earning programs at Central Washington University are concentrated in technical and applied fields. Air Transportation leads with median earnings of $74,997 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #22 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Accounting and Business Administration follow with four-year median earnings of $74,442 and $73,036 respectively, representing high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter regional and national labor markets with competitive starting pay. For context on how these fields align with broader workforce demand, the supply and demand for college graduates framework provides useful benchmarks.
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $63,444, placing Central Washington University in the 63.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,175 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central Washington University in the 70.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Central Washington University #629 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to WA's no-degree earnings baseline of $36,819 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential. The earnings pattern at Central Washington University is anchored by its Business concentration, with program-mix strength spread across Business (22%), Education (15%), and Social Sciences (9%). Business Administration stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining cohort scale with solid four-year earnings. Business Administration, the largest program by graduate count with 257 graduates, posts median four-year earnings of $73,036, and Azimuth ranks it #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions per the program-ranking methodology. Teacher Education (246 graduates, $59,659 median four-year earnings) and Psychology, General (181 graduates, $54,530) round out the core of the institution's earnings profile, while Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Criminal Justice extend the range into fields where early-career pay is more moderate but hiring demand remains steady.
