1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. Washington State University Research brief & institution hub Copy linkPrint brief # Washington State University WA · Large public institution · Overall rank #129 nationally Data snapshot September 27, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 Overview[Cost & aid](/school/washington-state-university/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/washington-state-university/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/washington-state-university/admissions/)[Majors](/school/washington-state-university/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/washington-state-university/similar/) ## A public university with a national Azimuth standing. ### Who it’s a good fit for Washington State University is a public university in Pullman, Washington, where the degree mix is led by Business, Social Sciences, and Engineering. Mobility is among the highest we track. Graduates out-earn what the model predicts for students like them, and the typical graduate earns above the median at comparable schools. The model adds for the factors it measures — field of study, enrollment and the local labor market — and subtracts for what it cannot explain. Pell Grant recipients finish within a few points of the rate for the entering cohort as a whole. Families at the bottom of the income scale pay well below the published cost, while those at the top pay closer to it. The admission rate is above the median for comparable schools. Most graduates are estimated to go into work rather than on to further study. A student drawn to the largest programs should know that the best-paid ones are in engineering and computer science. ## Washington State University at a glance ### Admissions and outcomes **Admission rate[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)** 86.6% **Six-year completion[\[2\]](#hub-data-note-completion)** 60.5% **Four-year earnings[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)** $73,467 ### Cost and family borrowing **Average annual net price · $48–75K family income[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)** $11,519 **Median student debt[\[4\]](#hub-data-note-student-debt)** $19,500 **Median Parent PLUS debt[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps)** $29,968 ## Washington State University rankings: how Azimuth assesses value[\[5\]](#hub-data-note-rankings) Washington State University is a public university in Pullman, Washington, enrolling 21,099 undergraduates. Its composite standing sits in the top tenth of the Azimuth ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions (91st percentile). The university admits 86.6% of applicants, a share above the 78.1% median for comparable institutions (same type and size). 78.3% of first-time full-time students return after the first year, a rate below the 83.1% median at comparable institutions. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) for the first-time full-time cohort is 60.5%, which sits below the 65.0% median at comparable institutions. An estimated 32.6% of entrants arrive as transfers or part-time students, so the six-year rate does not capture outcomes for that part of the student body. The four pillars span a wide range. Mobility is the strongest (92nd percentile), while access is the weakest (74th percentile). Return and affordability fall in between, at the 79th and 75th percentiles respectively. Mobility is the clearest strength at Washington State University, with a standing in the 92nd percentile. Names mobility as its strongest pillar among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth places return in the 79th percentile, affordability in the 75th percentile, and access in the 74th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access is the weakest pillar. The profile is led by mobility rather than an even result across all four measures. Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants make up 27.4% of the student body at Washington State University, a measure of financial access. Pell recipients complete at 59.0%, below the overall rate (60.5%) by 1.5 percentage points. For access, Azimuth ranks the university #385 among nonprofit four-year institutions. For mobility, Azimuth ranks the university #112 among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,063 more than the model expects for similar students. Those two measures point the same way. [How value-added outcomes are assessed](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) · [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Washington State University rankings in context | Geography | Rank | | --- | --- | | National | #129 | Azimuth overall value rankings within each geographic comparison group. ### National pillar percentiles **Economic mobility** National percentile: 92 **Access & reach** National percentile: 74 **[Affordability](/school/washington-state-university/cost/)** National percentile: 75 **[Return on investment](/school/washington-state-university/outcomes/)** National percentile: 79 ### Top-ranked majors 1. Agricultural Production Operations**#3** 2. Biological and Physical Sciences**#5** 3. Social Sciences, General**#7** This school’s three highest-ranked programs nationally. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ. [Explore major rankings](/school/washington-state-university/majors/#major-rankings) 01 / Washington State University briefing ## [Washington State University cost & financial aid](/school/washington-state-university/cost/)[\[6\]](#hub-data-note-net-price)[\[7\]](#hub-data-note-gps) Aid makes the published price at Washington State University much lower for the average recipient, though costs still differ by residency and household income. The university lists a cost of attendance of $27,648. Its published charges include $13,391 for in-state tuition and fees, $29,950 for out-of-state tuition and fees, and $13,622 for room and board. The average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $14,971, with average aid savings of $12,677 against the sticker price. That net price is $663 below the peer median of $15,634 at comparable institutions (same type and size). Azimuth places Washington State University in the 75th percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. A below-peer net price and substantial average aid savings point in the same direction. The published cost of attendance at Washington State University is $27,648. Azimuth ranks the university #359 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. After grants and scholarships, the average [net price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for aid recipients from families earning under $30,000 is $7,074, for those earning $48,001 to $75,000 it is $11,519, and for those earning over $110,000 it is $24,726. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $17,652. Aid covers about 46% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, bringing the overall average net price to $14,971. That is $663 below the peer median of $15,634 for comparable institutions (same type and size). Borrowers who complete a degree carry a median of $19,500 in federal student loans, $576 below the peer median of $20,076. 82.7% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. Parents who borrow through the separate [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) program hold a median of $29,968. If repaid over ten years, the median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $222 a month. Your family income Choose a household income range to see estimated net price. $0–30K$30–48K$48–75K$75–110K$110K+ Reported average annual net price · $48–75K**$11,519** After grants and scholarships. Your aid offer may differ. Averages within each income band; individual aid packages vary. ### Borrowing and repayment at Washington State University At Washington State University, federal borrowing is common, though the median debt for borrowers who complete is below the peer benchmark. Among completers with federal loans, median federal student loan debt is $19,500. 82.7% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans. At comparable institutions (same type and size), the peer median federal debt is $20,076; the university’s median is $576 below that figure. Separate parent borrowers have median [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) borrowing of $29,968. Earnings and borrowing offer a favorable return picture at Washington State University. Four years after completion, federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled have median earnings of $73,467; Azimuth places that figure in the 81st percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,063 more than the model expects for similar students. [Earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, falls in the 83rd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings scenarios based on the program mix put the downside at $52,089, the upside at $96,047, and the typical scenario at $73,467. Median federal debt at completion is $19,500, $576 below the peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), of $20,076. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $222 a month if repaid over ten years. Earnings beyond expectations and debt below the peer median point the same way. For the separate [Parent PLUS](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) parent-borrower population, median borrowing is $29,968. The student median debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $222 a month if repaid over ten years. [How Financial GPS measures payment burden](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) · [The four risk-and-reward zones](/analysis/4-zones-of-college-risk-and-reward/) Financial GPS ### What does repayment look like? **Institution median student debt** $19,500 **Institution Parent PLUS debt** $29,968 Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included. **Estimated student payment · monthly** $222/mo **Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly** $381/mo Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s. Payment assumptions Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. [Explore your own numbers in Financial GPS](/financial-gps/?tool=student&school=washington-state-university#student-tool) [Read the full cost & aid brief](/school/washington-state-university/cost/) 02 / Washington State University briefing ## [Washington State University career outcomes & earnings](/school/washington-state-university/outcomes/)[\[3\]](#hub-data-note-earnings)[\[8\]](#hub-data-note-scenarios)[\[9\]](#hub-data-note-value-added) Four years after completing a degree, federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $73,467. That is $7,857 above the $65,610 median for comparable institutions (same type and size), and places the university in the 81st percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,063 more than the model expects for similar students. That puts the gap at the 83rd percentile. The part the model attributes to the factors it measures adds $13,865. The part it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $3,802. Azimuth places the return pillar at the 79th percentile. At Washington State University, median earnings are $73,467 four years after completion. Azimuth places that earnings measure in the 81st percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings cohort contains 5,919 completers. Graduates earn about $10,063 more than the model expects for similar students. Earnings scenarios from the program mix show a typical scenario matching the reported median, with a downside scenario of $52,089 and an upside scenario of $96,047. An estimated 30.8% of graduates continue to graduate study, a figure estimated from the program mix. Above-expected earnings and the broad modeled range point to different outcomes across that mix. Four years after completing a degree, federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $73,467, a figure at the 81st percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. That median sits $7,857 above the $65,610 that comparable institutions (same type and size) typically post. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Washington State University #306 for return among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,063 more than the model expects for similar students. That placement puts the gap at the 83rd percentile. The share of the gap that the model attributes to the factors it measures (field of study, enrollment and the local labor market) adds $13,865. The portion that it attributes to a remainder it does not explain subtracts $3,802. Inside the measured factors, the STEM component alone adds $3,048. The degree mix spans engineering, nursing, communication and the social-science fields. Earnings scenarios estimated from the program mix range from $52,089 on the downside to $96,047 on the upside. Based on the program mix, an estimated 30.8% of graduates continue on to graduate study. Earnings vary substantially by field at Washington State University. Earnings scenarios run from $52,089 on the downside to $96,047 on the upside, across 49 programs with published earnings data. The higher end includes Computer Science at $119,686, Computer Engineering at $114,635, and Electrical Engineering at $104,354, each measured four years after completion. Those field-level medians show why the modeled range is broad. For borrowers who complete, median federal student loan debt at Washington State University is $19,500, below the comparable-institution median. At comparable institutions (same type and size), the median is $20,076; the university's figure is below that benchmark. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $222 a month if repaid over ten years. Parent PLUS borrowers are a separate parent-borrower population, with median borrowing of $29,968. In the earnings model, graduates earn about $10,063 more than the model expects for similar students. For aid recipients, the average net price, what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships, is $14,971. Lower borrower debt and higher-than-expected earnings point in the same direction. What explains value-added earnings? **Program & institutional factors The part attributed to observed institutional characteristics.** +$13,865 **Unexplained remainder What remains after the model’s observed factors.** \-$3,802 **Total modeled value added The modeled difference from expected earnings.** +$10,063 These are statistical model components, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. [Read the full outcomes brief](/school/washington-state-university/outcomes/) 03 / Washington State University briefing ## [Washington State University acceptance rate & admissions](/school/washington-state-university/admissions/)[\[1\]](#hub-data-note-admission)[\[10\]](#hub-data-note-sat)[\[11\]](#hub-data-note-retention) Admission to Washington State University was relatively open in the reported cycle: 86.6% of applicants were admitted. That rate is above the median of 78.1% for comparable institutions (same type and size), so the school’s reported admission outcome was less restrictive than its peer midpoint. Admissions **Admission rate** 86.6% [Read the full admissions brief](/school/washington-state-university/admissions/) 04 / Washington State University briefing ## [What are the largest majors at Washington State University?](/school/washington-state-university/majors/)[\[12\]](#hub-data-note-programs) Washington State University pairs higher-earning computing and engineering fields with moderately earning programs that place well in Azimuth’s field rankings. Computer Science reports median earnings of $119,686 four years after completion, with 177 degrees awarded; [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #66 among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Electrical Engineering records $104,354 and 110 degrees awarded, with an Azimuth rank of #35 among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. The moderate-earning side includes Agricultural Production Operations, at $69,708 with 27 degrees awarded and an Azimuth rank of #3 among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Social Sciences shows $61,617 and 250 degrees awarded, ranking #7 through Azimuth among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. The figures show distinct earnings levels alongside strong rankings in several moderate-earning fields. National field placements stand out at Washington State University, which has 44 bachelor’s programs ranked by Azimuth and published four-year earnings data for 49 programs. The best-ranked fields span agricultural operations, biological and physical sciences, and social sciences. [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) Agricultural Production Operations #3 nationally within its field; it awarded 27 degrees and had median earnings of $69,708 four years after completion. Biological and Physical Sciences ranks #5 nationally within its field, with 24 degrees awarded and median earnings of $68,583 four years after completion. Azimuth ranks Social Sciences #7 nationally within its field; 250 degrees were awarded, and median earnings were $61,617 four years after completion. The ranked fields show different earnings figures, and the program pages provide field-by-field detail. Washington State University awards bachelor's degrees across a wide set of fields, with 44 programs holding an Azimuth national rank and 49 programs carrying published four-year earnings data. The degree mix is led by the Business family, which accounts for 21.3% of degrees awarded, followed by Social Sciences at 10.4% and Engineering at 9.7%. The largest single program is Psychology, at 466 degrees awarded, with Nursing next at 370 degrees awarded and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication close behind at 301 degrees awarded. The strongest programs by national rank span agricultural, science, and social-science disciplines. Agricultural Production Operations awards 27 degrees, with median earnings of $69,708 four years after completion, and it ranks #1 in Washington within its field. Biological and Physical Sciences ranks #5 nationally and #1 in Washington within its field. The program has 24 degrees awarded and median earnings of $68,583 four years after completion. Social Sciences ranks #2 in Washington within its field, with 250 degrees awarded and a benchmark ratio of 1.16x against the national median for its field. The highest-earning program is Computer Science, where completers earn a median of $119,686 four years after completion, from 177 degrees awarded a year. The pattern is one of strength spread across several fields rather than concentrated in a single area. The largest programs are not the highest-earning ones: Psychology completers earn a median of $56,681 four years after completion, while the smaller Computer Science and engineering programs reach six figures. Some fields with strong national ranks are ones where four-year earnings may understate later trajectories. Across all fields, 28.4% of degrees awarded are in STEM. Four-year earnings · six largest reported fields **Psychology, General 466 degrees awarded** $56,681 **Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 370 degrees awarded** $91,495 **Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication 301 degrees awarded** $67,647 **Mechanical Engineering 265 degrees awarded** $93,971 **Biology, General 256 degrees awarded** $60,418 **Marketing 255 degrees awarded** $76,595 Fields selected by reported completions. Counts describe credentials awarded, not unique students or the earnings sample. Bars show median four-year earnings. [Read the full majors brief](/school/washington-state-university/majors/) 05 / Washington State University briefing ## How does Washington State University serve students from different backgrounds? Washington State University's mobility standing is a clear strength: Azimuth places the pillar in the 92nd percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For the first-time full-time cohort, the [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) is 60.5%; Pell recipients complete within six years at 59.0%, below the overall rate by 1.5 percentage points. Graduates earn about $10,063 more than the model expects for similar students, placing [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/), the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, in the 83rd percentile. Broad entry is part of the picture at Washington State University: the public university admits 86.6% of applicants and enrolls 21,099 undergraduates. Pell Grants reach 27.4% of undergraduates, and an estimated 32.6% enter as transfers or part-time students. Azimuth puts the access pillar in the 74th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. The admission pattern, Pell reach, and transfer presence point to several routes into the university. 06 / Washington State University briefing ## [What colleges are similar to Washington State University?](/school/washington-state-university/similar/)[\[15\]](#hub-data-note-peers) Azimuth groups alternatives by admissions, location, cost and earnings, then orders candidates within each group. Peer earnings use the matched four-year cohort. [How matching works](/school/washington-state-university/similar/#peer-matching). ### A shortlist for different decisions Choose a row to compare the figures with Washington State University. Admissions peerEastern Washington University90.8% admitted+ Comparison with Washington State University | Measure | Washington State University | Eastern Washington University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $73,467 | $60,781\-$12,686 vs Washington State University | | Average annual net price | $14,971 | $13,886\-$1,085 vs Washington State University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 86.6% | 90.8% | [Explore Eastern Washington University →](/school/eastern-washington-university/) Higher-admission alternativeCalifornia State University-East Bay97.4% admitted+ Comparison with Washington State University | Measure | Washington State University | California State University-East Bay | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $73,467 | $72,596\-$871 vs Washington State University | | Average annual net price | $14,971 | $9,320\-$5,651 vs Washington State University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 86.6% | 97.4% | [Explore California State University-East Bay →](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/) Nearby alternativeGonzaga UniversityNearby option · WA+ Comparison with Washington State University | Measure | Washington State University | Gonzaga University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $73,467 | $80,896+$7,429 vs Washington State University | | Average annual net price | $14,971 | $35,119+$20,148 vs Washington State University · higher cost | | Admission rate | 86.6% | 81.7% | Higher-earnings alternativeSan Jose State University$89,614 earnings+ Comparison with Washington State University | Measure | Washington State University | San Jose State University | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $73,467 | $89,614+$16,147 vs Washington State University | | Average annual net price | $14,971 | $13,760\-$1,211 vs Washington State University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 86.6% | 84.6% | [Explore San Jose State University →](/school/san-jose-state-university/) Lower-cost alternativeCUNY Brooklyn College$3,103 average net price+ Comparison with Washington State University | Measure | Washington State University | CUNY Brooklyn College | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $73,467 | $62,833\-$10,634 vs Washington State University | | Average annual net price | $14,971 | $3,103\-$11,868 vs Washington State University · lower cost | | Admission rate | 86.6% | 58.4% | [Explore CUNY Brooklyn College →](/school/cuny-brooklyn-college/) Similar profileUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraMatched across several measures+ Comparison with Washington State University | Measure | Washington State University | University of California-Santa Barbara | | --- | --- | --- | | Peer earnings · 4 years | $73,467 | $70,323\-$3,144 vs Washington State University | | Average annual net price | $14,971 | $16,109+$1,138 vs Washington State University · higher cost | | Admission rate | 86.6% | 33.0% | [Explore University of California-Santa Barbara →](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/) Each school is the first-ranked match in its category, not a recommendation across every measure. The same college may lead more than one category. Figures use the matching snapshot; earnings reflect the matched four-year cohort. — means unavailable. [Read the full similar schools brief](/school/washington-state-university/similar/) ## Data scope & methodology Structured payloads generated September 27, 2026 · Governed hub narrative September 27, 2026 · Governed spoke corpus September 27, 2026 Four-year earnings describe cohorts of completers. Figures for other horizons describe different cohorts and are not joined into a career-growth projection. Azimuth's overall rank and pillar percentiles come from the school profile. Absolute pillar ranks, city, enrollment and official-site links are shown only when structured data supplies them. Detailed earnings, cost, admissions and program values come from the endpoint responsible for each measure. Missing values are not replaced with zero. Value-added estimates are model associations, not causal effects. Figures are refreshed with each data release, at most a quarter apart. The underlying source dates can be earlier than the release. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. [Read the ranking methodology, data definitions and limitations](/methodology/) · [About College Azimuth](/about/) Read the analysis behind [value-added earnings](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) and the [change to four-year graduate earnings](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/). These articles are published on collegeazimuth.com. ## Data notes & source fields Scorecard field codes identify the underlying measure; Azimuth-derived values are labeled separately. Snapshot dates are not measurement years. Source populations and reporting periods differ across measures. Field definitions are in the [U.S. Department of Education · College Scorecard documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/files/InstitutionDataDocumentation.pdf); notes with a different source link it below. 1. **Admission rate.** Reported applicants admitted; not a transfer-specific or individual admission probability. Source fields: `ADM_RATE` 2. **Six-year completion.** First-time, full-time students completing at the institution within 150% of normal time, typically six years for a bachelor’s degree. Source fields: `C150_4` 3. **Four-year institutional earnings.** Median earnings of graduates in the reported cohort who are working and not enrolled, four years after completion. Source fields: `MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` 4. **Median federal student debt.** Federal student-loan debt among completers in the reported borrowing cohort. Excludes Parent PLUS and is not total debt across all students. Source fields: `GRAD_DEBT_MDN` 5. **National, regional and state ranks; pillar percentiles; major ranks.** Derived scores within the stated eligible comparison set, not raw Scorecard fields. Major ranks compare institutions within a field; their denominators differ. Source fields: `Azimuth rankings` [College Azimuth · Ranking methodology](/methodology/) 6. **Annual net price by family income.** Average annual cost after grants and scholarships for the eligible first-time, full-time aid-recipient cohort. Public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. Includes living costs; these are averages, not medians or individual offers. Source fields: `NPT4_PUB/PRIV; NPT41_PUB/PRIV through NPT45_PUB/PRIV` 7. **Parent PLUS debt, payments and GPS illustration.** Stored payments use Financial GPS loan and repayment assumptions. The adjustable spectrum applies the published framework to annual student payments divided by earnings minus an expense allowance; its initial allowance uses the frozen 2024 framework baseline. It is an illustration rather than a school rating. Parent PLUS uses the completer median where available, otherwise the all-borrower median; these describe different borrowing populations. Source fields: `PLUS_DEBT_ALL_COMP_MD; fallback PLUS_DEBT_ALL_MD; Azimuth Financial GPS calculations` [College Azimuth · Financial GPS methodology](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/) 8. **Downside and upside earnings; yellow band.** The band spans the modeled lower and higher scenarios. It is not the P25–P75 interval for individual graduates. The median marker is the separately reported institutional median. Source fields: `Azimuth modeled program-mix scenarios` [College Azimuth · Earnings scenario methodology](/analysis/median-roi-hides-a-harsh-reality/) 9. **Value added and its components.** Observed-factor attribution plus the unexplained remainder equals total modeled value added. These are associations, not proven causal effects; the remainder is not a direct measure of teaching quality. Source fields: `Azimuth statistical model` [College Azimuth · Value-added methodology](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) 10. **SAT score range and reported midpoint.** Reported scores of enrolled score-submitters, not admission cutoffs. The midpoint field is not necessarily the middle of the displayed range. Source fields: `SATVR25 + SATMT25; SATVR75 + SATMT75; SAT_AVG` 11. **First-year retention.** Retention of the reported full-time cohort at four-year institutions. Source fields: `RET_FT4` 12. **Program earnings, completion counts and major-mix dots.** Included bachelor’s programs have at least five reported completions. Counts are aggregated credentials, not unique people or an earnings sample. Major-mix dots group those counts by field of study; excluded programs are not zero activity. Source fields: `EARN_MDN_4YR; IPEDSCOUNT1; CIPCODE` [College Scorecard · Field-of-study technical documentation](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/assets/FieldOfStudyDataDocumentation.pdf) 13. **Pell recipients.** Share of undergraduates receiving a Pell Grant in the reported academic year. Source fields: `PCTPELL` 14. **Entering students outside the first-time, full-time group.** This is not an observed transfer-in rate. It includes part-time entrants and other entering-student attendance patterns. Source fields: `1 − PFTFTUG1_EF` 15. **Peer earnings and signed differences.** Differences are peer minus this school, from the same matching snapshot. A positive earnings difference does not mean the peer is better on every measure. Source fields: `Azimuth peer model using MD_EARN_WNE_4YR` [College Azimuth · Comparison methodology](/methodology/) [How to interpret program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)