Finance and Financial Management Services at Eastern Washington University

Eastern Washington University's finance graduates start behind most of their peers, earning about $7,600 less than the state median in their first year out. Among Washington's seven finance programs, this ranks just below the middle of the pack—but that means competing with stronger programs at UW Seattle and WSU that offer 30% higher starting salaries. The gap narrows somewhat by year four as graduates reach $60,166, but they're still playing catch-up.

The silver lining here is debt: at just over $17,000, graduates carry significantly less burden than peers at most programs (which average $23,000+ nationally). That 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio means manageable monthly payments even with the lower starting salary. For students from modest backgrounds—and over a third receive Pell grants here—minimizing debt while gaining a finance credential has real value.

The practical calculation comes down to opportunity cost versus financial risk. Your child will likely earn less out of the gate than graduates from Seattle or Pullman, but they'll also carry less debt and attend a less selective institution (92% admission rate). If they're aiming for competitive corporate finance roles in Seattle, the weaker alumni network could prove limiting. For students targeting regional banking, credit unions, or accounting firms in Eastern Washington, the combination of low debt and local connections may be enough to justify the lower earnings trajectory.