College ROI for Students in King County, WA

Is college worth it in King County? Here's the financial analysis.

Public In-State/yr

$37,229

Public Out-of-State/yr

$65,419

Private/yr

$93,430

Payback Period

2 yrs

ROI Comparison

4-Year Public University

Total Cost (4 yrs)$148,916
Annual Earnings Premium$75,621
Payback Period2 years

20-Year Net Return$1,363,504

4-Year Private University

Total Cost (4 yrs)$373,720
Annual Earnings Premium$86,964
Payback Period4.3 years

20-Year Net Return$1,365,563

About King County, Washington

King County in Washington has a median household income of $116,340 and a population of 2,254,371. The college earnings premium in this region makes a public university degree pay back in approximately 2 years.

These estimates use regional cost and earnings data. Actual ROI varies enormously by major, institution, completion rate, and career path. Our Monte Carlo simulation models degree-specific outcomes, student loan scenarios, and alternative investment paths.

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Other Counties in Washington

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: NCES IPEDS, College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates based on regional data. This is not financial advice.