WashingtonWashington

State Summary Report Card (PDF)
Complete State Report Card (PDF)

Performance Categories

Preparation

C+

Not Improved

Washington's fairly low performance in educating its young population could limit the state's access to a competitive workforce and weaken its economy.

  • Small proportions of high school students score well on Advanced Placement tests and college entrance exams.
  • Only 66% of Hispanics have a high school credential, compared with 91% of whites.

Participation

D

Improved

College opportunities for young and working-age adults are poor.

  • A low percentage of young adults (ages 18 to 24) are enrolled in college-level education and training. 
  • Sixteen percent of Hispanic young adults are enrolled in college, compared with 36% of whites.

Affordability

F

Not Improved

Higher education has become less affordable for students and their families.

  • Financial aid to low-income students is high compared with other states, and has increased substantially since the early 1990s.
  • However, poor and working-class families must devote 36% of their income, even after aid, to pay for costs at two-year colleges.

Completion

A-

Improved

Washington performs very well—and has improved-in awarding certificates and degrees.

  • Sixty-three percent of college students complete a bachelor's degree within six years.
  • However, 51% of Hispanics graduate within six years, compared with 65% of whites.

Benefits

B

Improved

A large proportion of residents have a bachelor's degree, yet the economic benefits to the state as a result are only fair.

  • Eleven percent of Hispanics have a bachelor's degree, compared with 34% of whites.
  • If all racial/ethnic groups had the same educational attainment and earnings as whites, total annual personal income in the state would be about $7 billion higher.

Learning

I

Like all states, Washington receives an "Incomplete" in Learning because there is not sufficient data to allow meaningful state-by-state comparisons.

 

Change Over Time: Key Indicators

The following reflects Washington’s performance and progress since the early 1990s on several key indicators.

Preparation

The percentage of young adults in Washington who earn a high school diploma has decreased since the early 1990s. High school completion equals the U.S. average but is below the top-performing states.

Participation

College enrollment of young adults in Washington has improved slightly since the early 1990s. Compared with the national average and the top states, however, substantially fewer young adults are enrolled in Washington (in percentages).

The enrollment of working-age adults, relative to the number of residents without a bachelor’s degree, has declined in Washington—as it has nationally and in the best-performing states. The percentage attending college in Washington is slightly above the U.S. average but below the top states.

Affordability

The share of family income, even after financial aid, needed to pay for college has risen substantially. To attend public two- and four-year colleges in Washington, students and families pay more than the U.S. average and more than those in the best-performing states.

Completion

The number of undergraduate credentials and degrees awarded in Washington, relative to the number of students enrolled, has increased since the early 1990s. Washington surpasses the U.S. average but is below the top states on this measure.

Benefits

The percentage of residents who have a bachelor’s degree has increased. Washington is above the U.S. average but below the top states.