2026 Best Value Philosophy Schools in Washington
[Philosophy](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for philosophy students.
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2026 Best Value Philosophy Schools in Washington
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the philosophy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Philosophy Schools
University Of Washington Bothell Campus earned the #1 spot for value among philosophy schools in Washington. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Bothell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,919, while out-of-state students pay about $43,155. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the philosophy program here. Philosophy graduates of University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn a median of $42,072 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Bothell Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Washington University earned it the #2 place for philosophy. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,586, compared with $26,583 for out-of-state students. Philosophy graduates carry a median of $21,754 in student loans. Soon after graduation, philosophy degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $47,144. That is a strong return on a $21,754 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy will find it at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $42,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Western Washington University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Students borrow a median of $20,361 to complete the philosophy program here. Early-career philosophy graduates make about $41,118. That is a strong return on a $20,361 median debt. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
