State Support for Higher Education
Through Opportunity Pathways, Washington State provides a variety of financial aid programs to help students and
their families pay for college. Pursuant to RCW 28B.15.0681, the approximate level of state support received by students is being provided to
the colleges for your use. 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 2024-25.
| Cost of Instruction | Resident |
|---|---|
| Tuition Operating Fee per Student Tuition Operating Fee is the standard operating fee for a full-time student in lower division classes. |
$3,866
|
| State Support per Student State Support is the amount paid by the state from various sources, including taxes and other funds |
$11,289
|
| Total Cost Per Student Total costs per FTE is composed of Tuition Operating Fee and State Support |
$15,154
|
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.