Solid graduate outcomes with earnings above the peer average.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Washington State University graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early and mid-career phases. Median earnings begin at $53,510 six years after enrollment, increase to $61,897 at eight years, and reach $68,905 at ten years, representing robust 28.8% growth from the six-year to ten-year measurement period.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings exceed the peer average, indicating above-typical outcomes for this institution type.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $19,500 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Washington State University graduates carry median debt of $19,500, exactly matching the peer median and placing WSU at the 72nd percentile nationally for manageable borrowing levels. Debt levels range from $6,500 at the 25th percentile to $25,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating that most students graduate with moderate debt burdens.
Washington State University demonstrates well above average return on educational investment, ranking at the 79th percentile nationally with strong tier performance. Graduates earn $68,905 ten years after enrollment, placing WSU at the 85th percentile nationally and significantly above the peer median of $60,543.
Approximately 23.2% of WSU graduates continue to graduate or professional school, with high confidence in this estimate based on program mix analysis....
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Computer Science leads WSU's earnings performance at $93,485 for 165 graduates, followed by Electrical Engineering at $87,229 and Mechanical Engineering at $83,875, demonstrating the premium for technical skills in today's economy. Health programs deliver strong returns, with Adult Health Nursing producing $76,963 for 345 graduates, reflecting both scale and quality in healthcare preparation.
Business programs show varied outcomes, with Information Resources Management reaching $71,717 and Digital Marketing achieving $69,991, while Banking and Financial Support Services delivers $70,504. Liberal arts programs like Psychology produce $47,776 for the largest graduate cohort of 415 students, providing broad preparation for diverse career paths.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution at WSU shows meaningful upside potential, with the 75th percentile reaching $97,582 compared to $43,186 at the 25th percentile, creating a 2.3:1 ratio that reflects diverse career outcomes across programs. Low-income graduates earn $53,400 median, indicating solid economic mobility for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
