Head-to-head comparison
Eastern Washington University vs Whitman College: which has better ROI?
Option A Cheney, WA
Eastern Washington University
- Net price / year
- $13,886
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,897
- Payback
- 5.8 yrs
Option B Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College
- Net price / year
- $33,313
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,589
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Eastern Washington University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $55,544 in 5.8 years versus 6.9 years at Whitman College, on median earnings of $57,897 vs $67,589 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Washington University | Whitman College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,886 | $33,313 |
| Total net cost | $55,544 | $133,252 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,897 | $67,589 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $18,437 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $135,196 | $251,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Eastern Washington University or Whitman College?
Eastern Washington University, at $13,886 a year after aid versus $33,313 — a gap of $19,427 a year, or $77,708 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Eastern Washington University or Whitman College graduates earn more?
Whitman College graduates report a median $67,589 ten years after entry, $9,692 more than the $57,897 at Eastern Washington University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Eastern Washington University or Whitman College?
Whitman College: its completers carry a median $18,437 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Eastern Washington University, a difference of $1,063. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Whitman College, against 43% at Eastern Washington University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.