ANOMALY ENGINE · NOTABLE SIGNALS

Earnings, completion, debt, and enrollment anomalies at Washington State

Short-arc shifts (recent 3-year window), peer outliers, earnings trend breaks, completion drops, enrollment cliffs, and debt-to-earnings warnings — surfaced deterministically from the federal record. Multi-decade shifts are reported separately in the Long Arc section, since 25-year tuition drift isn't really an anomaly.

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING WORSE-12%

Undergraduate enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment at Washington State University fell 12% between 2021 and 2024 (24.0k → 21.1k).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER-100%

3-year cohort default rate

3-year cohort default rate at Washington State University fell 100% between 2021 and 2024 (1.4% → 0.0%).

LONG-ARC SHIFT · TRENDING BETTER+23%

100%-time completion

100%-time completion at Washington State University rose 23% between 2006 and 2009 (32.5% → 40.2%).

SECTION 01 · OUTCOMES SNAPSHOT

Washington State earnings, debt, and completion vs. the Washington median

Each tile compares this institution to the Washington median for the same metric. Sub-line shows the comparison value, not an interpretation. Sparklines trace the federally available history.

MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10Y

$68,905+29% · 6→10y

Washington median $47,350

MEDIAN EARNINGS · 6Y

$53,510

Treasury earnings · 6y post-entry

COMPLETION · 150%

61.6%-4% · '97→'24

Washington median 46.8%

MEDIAN FEDERAL DEBT

$14,853+86% · '97→'20

At program completion

UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT

21,583+29% · '96→'24

latest IPEDS

RETENTION

79.6%-7% · '04→'24

first-time, full-time

ADMISSION RATE

85.4%+6% · '01→'24

latest cohort

IN-STATE TUITION

$12,997+266% · '00→'24

out-of-state $29,073

SECTION 02 · EARNINGS HORIZONS

How Washington State earnings spread, 4 to 10 years after entry

Treasury tax-record earnings for federally aided students who first enrolled at this institution. Each point is a horizon from the most-recent vintage. Single median per horizon (no p25/p75 publishing).

ALL FEDERALLY AIDED STUDENTS · TAX-RECORD EARNINGSVINTAGE 2025-05

Earnings widen with time post-entry. Selection: federal-aid recipients only — not all graduates.Methodology →

SECTION 03 · DEBT-TO-EARNINGS

What loans cost relative to earnings at Washington State

Annual debt service as a share of median earnings 10 years after entry, computed under federal Direct loan terms (10-year fixed at 6%). The 8% line is the gainful-employment threshold from federal regulation; above 12% has historically been considered “failing” under prior rule cycles.

Institution-wide

2.9%

0%8% · GE20%+

Median federal debt $14,853 amortized over 10 years vs. median earnings $68,905 (10y after entry).

SECTION 04 · LONG ARC

Washington State enrollment, completion, and debt over time

Federally available history. Coverage varies by metric — IPEDS publishes some series only after 2009 and others only before.

UNDERGRAD · 1996–202421,099

Undergraduate enrollment.IPEDS EF

COMPLETION 150% · 1997–202460.5%

150%-time completion rate.IPEDS GR

MEDIAN DEBT · 1997–2020$19,500

Median federal student debt at exit.SCORECARD

COMPLETION · 100% · 1997→2009+58%

Washington State · completion · 100% rose

25.4% → 40.2%

UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT · 1996→2024+29%

Washington State · undergrad enrollment rose

16,317 → 21,099

IN-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+266%

Washington State · in-state tuition rose

$3,658 → $13,391

OUT-OF-STATE TUITION · 2000→2024+184%

Washington State · out-of-state tuition rose

$10,544 → $29,950

MEDIAN DEBT · 1997→2020+86%

Washington State · median debt rose

$10,500 → $19,500

COHORT DEFAULT RATE · 2011→2024-100%

Washington State · cohort default rate fell

5.7% → 0.0%

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_10YR · 2007→2020+40%

Washington State · earnings_median_10yr rose

$49,100 → $68,905

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_8YR · 2005→2020+40%

Washington State · earnings_median_8yr rose

$44,300 → $61,897

EARNINGS_MEDIAN_6YR · 2003→2020+37%

Washington State · earnings_median_6yr rose

$39,200 → $53,510

SECTION 05 · PROGRAMS

Washington State programs ranked by 5-year earnings

Each row is one (CIP × credential) program reported by the institution in College Scorecard's Field-of-Study data. Cohort floor is 30 students; below this, federal data is suppressed.

Educational Administration and SupervisionCIP 1304 · Doctoral Degree$163,9984 grads Engineering-Related FieldsCIP 1515 · Master's Degree$156,03620 grads Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationCIP 5120 · First Professional Degree$144,700167 grads Business Administration, Management and OperationsCIP 5202 · Master's Degree$142,779293 grads Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCIP 5138 · Doctoral Degree$141,18049 grads Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCIP 5138 · Master's Degree$138,19610 grads Veterinary MedicineCIP 0180 · First Professional Degree$117,722127 grads Educational Administration and SupervisionCIP 1304 · Master's Degree$115,09611 grads Computer EngineeringCIP 1409 · Bachelor's Degree$110,49244 grads Computer ScienceCIP 1107 · Bachelor's Degree$108,566176 grads Construction ManagementCIP 5220 · Bachelor's Degree$107,912—Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringCIP 1410 · Bachelor's Degree$100,264140 grads Accounting and Related ServicesCIP 5203 · Master's Degree$97,6981 grads Biomedical/Medical EngineeringCIP 1405 · Bachelor's Degree$95,87921 grads Mechanical EngineeringCIP 1419 · Bachelor's Degree$92,146279 grads Health and Medical Administrative ServicesCIP 5107 · Master's Degree$91,0620 grads EconomicsCIP 4506 · Bachelor's Degree$90,09763 grads Civil EngineeringCIP 1408 · Bachelor's Degree$89,281130 grads Chemical EngineeringCIP 1407 · Bachelor's Degree$88,13244 grads Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingCIP 5138 · Bachelor's Degree$84,931348 grads International BusinessCIP 5211 · Bachelor's Degree$83,95235 grads Finance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 5208 · Bachelor's Degree$82,433188 grads MarketingCIP 5214 · Bachelor's Degree$82,094210 grads Management Information Systems and ServicesCIP 5212 · Bachelor's Degree$81,392110 grads

Showing top 24 of 69 ranked programs.334 TOTAL PROGRAMS

SECTION 06 · BY CIP FAMILY

69 Washington State programs with earnings, grouped by field

Programs are grouped by 2-digit CIP family. Programs without reported earnings are hidden to keep the list focused.

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES · CIP 15

FOREIGN LANGUAGES · CIP 16

Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$66,73514 grads

FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES · CIP 19

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$48,017190 grads Apparel and TextilesBachelor's Degree$57,36455 grads

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE · CIP 23

English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$48,754106 grads

LIBERAL ARTS & GENERAL STUDIES · CIP 24

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$46,521123 grads

BIOLOGICAL & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES · CIP 26

Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$63,464256 grads Zoology/Animal BiologyBachelor's Degree$52,43450 grads Neurobiology and NeurosciencesBachelor's Degree$59,72147 grads Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's Degree$71,66635 grads Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBachelor's Degree$60,74133 grads Physiology, Pathology and Related SciencesMaster's Degree$62,48625 grads

MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS · CIP 27

Applied MathematicsBachelor's Degree$70,38645 grads

MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES · CIP 30

Biological and Physical SciencesBachelor's Degree$68,99712 grads

PARKS, RECREATION & FITNESS · CIP 31

Health and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$64,225141 grads Health and Physical Education/FitnessMaster's Degree$63,63315 grads

PHYSICAL SCIENCES · CIP 40

Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$65,534112 grads

PSYCHOLOGY · CIP 42

Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$56,856486 grads

HOMELAND SECURITY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES · CIP 43

Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$63,847—

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & SOCIAL SERVICES · CIP 44

Public Policy AnalysisBachelor's Degree$54,6598 grads

SOCIAL SCIENCES · CIP 45

Social Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$59,442337 grads Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$61,086104 grads EconomicsBachelor's Degree$90,09763 grads SociologyBachelor's Degree$50,03548 grads AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$40,26228 grads

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS · CIP 50

Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree$61,99233 grads

HEALTH PROFESSIONS · CIP 51

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$84,931348 grads Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationFirst Professional Degree$144,700167 grads Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingDoctoral Degree$141,18049 grads Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$78,64027 grads Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$60,32515 grads Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingMaster's Degree$138,19610 grads Health and Medical Administrative ServicesMaster's Degree$91,0620 grads

BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT & MARKETING · CIP 52

Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$142,779293 grads Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$77,091219 grads MarketingBachelor's Degree$82,094210 grads Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$69,669204 grads Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$82,433188 grads Hospitality Administration/ManagementBachelor's Degree$55,920162 grads Management Information Systems and ServicesBachelor's Degree$81,392110 grads International BusinessBachelor's Degree$83,95235 grads Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsBachelor's Degree$77,03620 grads Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$97,6981 grads Construction ManagementBachelor's Degree$107,912—

HISTORY · CIP 54

HistoryBachelor's Degree$56,65661 grads

AGRICULTURE · CIP 01

Veterinary MedicineFirst Professional Degree$117,722127 grads Animal SciencesBachelor's Degree$47,320111 grads Food Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$70,64643 grads Agricultural Production OperationsBachelor's Degree$61,47723 grads

NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION · CIP 03

Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree$65,0849 grads Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementBachelor's Degree$45,5430 grads

ARCHITECTURE · CIP 04

ArchitectureBachelor's Degree$68,744—ArchitectureMaster's Degree$71,116—

COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM · CIP 09

Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationBachelor's Degree$53,821137 grads Communication and Media StudiesMaster's Degree$74,44041 grads Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$63,8220 grads

FINANCIAL OUTCOME · ILLUSTRATION

Estimate the financial outcome at Washington State

Pick a program. Cost from Scorecard net price by family income; earnings from Treasury 5-year-post-completion median, projected forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve. The selection-bias toggle applies the Dale-Krueger shrinkage. Outcomes illustration, not a forecast — see methodology.

Program

Family income

Discount rate · 5.0%

Horizon · 40 years

Apply Dale-Krueger selection shrinkage

Shrinks the earnings premium toward the matched-applicant mean. STEM <15%, business ~40%, arts & education ~60%.

NET PRESENT VALUE

$198,495

Over 40 years, discounted 5.0%

BREAKEVEN

Year 12

First year cumulative discounted earnings cross zero

Cost per year: $12,308
HS-only baseline · WA: $41,200
Years to complete: 4
CIP family: 42

Outcomes illustration · not a forecast. Projects observed Scorecard earnings forward with a Mincer age-earnings curve under your assumptions. See methodology for the math.

SECTION 07 · SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

Institutions similar to Washington State in Washington

Picked by Carnegie sector × predominant credential level. These are not rankings — just nearest-neighbour surfaces for comparison.

SEATTLE$78.5k

Washington State