Washington State Support for Higher Education
2025-26 State Support and Student Costs
The purpose of this document is to inform colleges of the disclosure requirements
listed in RCW
28B.15.0681 and to provide sample language they may use in their disclosure statement.
The
statute directs institutions of higher education to disclose the following information
on “tuition billing statements” for resident undergraduate students.
- The full cost of instruction
- The amount collected from student tuition operating fees
- The difference between the full cost of instruction and student tuition.
In addition to the requirement to provide information on a student’s “tuition billing
statement”,
colleges may, at their discretion, provide the information via brochures, websites,
etc.
Amounts in the table below represent an average for a full-time equivalent, lower
division resident
student attending community and technical colleges for the academic year 2025-26.
| Cost of Instruction | Resident | Percent of Total |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuition Operating Fee per Student |
$3,866 | 26% |
| State Support per Student State Support is the amount paid by the state from various sources, including taxes and other funds |
$11,289 | 74% |
| Total Cost Per Student Total costs per FTE is composed of Tuition Operating Fee and State Support |
$15,154 | 100% |
Sample - Educational Cost Statement:
The average cost to educate a resident full-time community or technical college student
for the
2025-26 academic year is $15,154. Students pay an average of $3,866 in tuition toward
this cost.
The remaining $11,289 is an “opportunity pathway” provided by the State and is funded
by state
taxes and other sources. The amounts shown are averages for a full-time, resident
student. The
actual tuition a student pays will vary due to credit load, residency status and other
factors.