Colleges with the lowest student debt in Washington
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Washington13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by median debt.
How this list is made
- Schools in Washington.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Washington
- Median debt $14,615
- 85% graduate
- 2
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Washington
- Median debt $18,437
- 81% graduate
- 3
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- Median debt $18,500
- 65% graduate
- 4
- 5
Seattle University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- Median debt $19,883
- 76% graduate
- 6
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Median debt $20,891
- 71% graduate
- 7
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Median debt $22,578
- 69% graduate
- 8
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for earnings
- Median debt $24,000
- 62% graduate
- 9
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for graduation
- Median debt $24,454
- 86% graduate
- 10Tie
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofitTop 15% for earnings
- Median debt $25,000
- 68% graduate
- 10Tie
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Median debt $25,000
- 71% graduate
- 12
Walla Walla University
College Place, WA · Private nonprofit#6 in Washington
- Median debt $26,842
- 60% graduate
- 13
DigiPen Institute of Technology
Redmond, WA · Private for-profitTop 8% for earnings
- Median debt $27,000
- 61% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $14,091 | $14,615 | $78,466 | 85% |
| Whitman College | $33,313 | $18,437 | $67,589 | 81% |
| Western Washington University | $21,193 | $18,500 | $62,569 | 65% |
| Washington State University | $14,971 | $19,500 | $68,905 | 61% |
| Seattle University | $34,662 | $19,883 | $75,272 | 76% |
| Northwest University | $22,288 | $20,891 | $54,914 | 71% |
| Pacific Lutheran University | $19,589 | $22,578 | $66,990 | 69% |
| Seattle Pacific University | $24,488 | $24,000 | $64,506 | 62% |
| Gonzaga University | $35,119 | $24,454 | $78,892 | 86% |
| University of Puget Sound | $38,394 | $25,000 | $69,594 | 68% |
| Whitworth University | $26,534 | $25,000 | $58,561 | 71% |
| Walla Walla University | $23,329 | $26,842 | $61,885 | 60% |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology | $44,446 | $27,000 | $79,878 | 61% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 61
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Wisconsin 15