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Key Takeaways
Best information systems degree programs: U of Washington-Seattle, U of Washington-Tacoma, Western Washington
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $3,195 to $53,235/year
Columbia Basin College offers the most affordable option at $5,514/yr
Information Systems degree programs available: 2 associate's, 4 master's, 2 doctoral in Washington
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
1 online information systems degree programs in Washington
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
Washington community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
2 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Expedia
Tech hubs in Seattle and Bellevue
Hakia Research 2026
Information Systems degree programs near 43+ cities across Washington
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked Washington Information Systems programs
We rank 22 accredited information systems programs in Washington using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Are Information Systems Degree Programs in Washington Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Information Systems Degree Rankings in Washington
Compare the top-ranked Information Systems programs in Washington by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Bachelor's Information Systems Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington ranks among the nation's top destinations for information systems education, with 14 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 11 public and 3 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are U of Washington-Seattle, U of Washington-Tacoma, Western Washington, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Washington information systems programs earn a median salary of $123,446, 26% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $3,195 to $53,235 annually, with an average of $14,017/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 87%, with the highest reaching 99%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to Washington's leading technology employers. For students seeking information systems degrees in Washington, these top-ranked information systems schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Best Master's Information Systems Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington offers 4 master's degree programs in information systems, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, U of Washington-Seattle, Seattle, U of Washington-Tacoma, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Washington earn a median salary of $145,230, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $20,826/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among Washington's information systems schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Best Doctoral Information Systems Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington is home to 2 doctoral programs in information systems, preparing students for research positions, faculty appointments, and executive technical roles. Leading programs at U of Washington-Seattle, Washington State are recognized for cutting-edge research, strong faculty publications, and competitive funding packages.
Career Outcomes
Doctoral graduates command premium salaries, with Washington PhD holders earning a median of $181,538, reflecting the advanced expertise required for research and executive positions. The Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond region's research universities and corporate R&D centers provide extensive collaboration opportunities with industry leaders like Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing.
Costs & Value
PhD programs typically require 4-6 years of full-time study, including coursework, qualifying examinations, and original dissertation research. Many programs offer full funding through teaching or research assistantships, covering tuition and providing stipends of $25,000–$40,000 annually.
Curriculum & Specializations
Research strengths across Washington programs include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, systems, and theoretical computer science. For aspiring researchers pursuing information systems degrees in Washington, graduates go on to careers as university faculty, industry research scientists, or technical executives, contributing to advances in technology that impact millions of users worldwide.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Information Systems Degree Costs & Tuition in Washington
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $13,354/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $33,385/year |
| Community college tuition | $3,339/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $80,124 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $20,030 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Information Systems Students in Washington
State Aid Programs
Washington offers substantial financial aid for Information Systems students, from state grants covering significant tuition costs to institutional scholarships and federal programs. The Washington College Grant (WCG) provides up to $10,868 annually for eligible residents attending public four-year universities, based on family income and financial need (WSAC).
Key Programs & Amounts
The WCG covers tuition for families earning up to $100,000 annually at reduced rates, making it one of America's most generous state grant programs. Students at community colleges receive proportionally scaled awards covering substantial portions of tuition. Federal financial aid supplements state programs. Pell Grants provide up to $7,395 annually for undergraduate students demonstrating financial need.
Institutional Scholarships
Federal Direct Loans offer $5,500-$7,500 annually for dependent undergraduates. Graduate students in Information Systems master's programs can borrow up to $20,500 annually through federal loans. MBA programs with IS concentrations may qualify for Graduate PLUS loans covering remaining costs.
All federal aid requires FAFSA completion, due by Washington's priority deadline of late January. Business school scholarships enhance affordability. The UW Build School awards merit scholarships ranging from $5,000-$25,000 for high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students. The Build School's Corporate Partners program connects students with scholarship support from employers including Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing.
UW Tacoma awards School of Engineering & Technology scholarships of $2,000-$10,000 annually. Many employers provide tuition assistance for employees pursuing IS degrees, with Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing offering $5,250-$12,000 annual education benefits. Professional organizations including AITP and ISACA offer scholarships for IS students.
Information Systems Degree ROI Calculator, Washington
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a information systems degree in Washington. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Information Systems Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a information systems degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+1168%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$2,161,658
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$110,000
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Information Systems Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in Washington metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $160K |
| Bellevue | $152K |
| Redmond | $145K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Information Systems Graduates in Washington
Find information systems jobs in Washington. These major employers across Washington metro areas are actively hiring information systems degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Information Systems Jobs in Seattle
WASeattle is home to Amazon and Microsoft headquarters, plus major engineering offices for Google, Meta, and other tech giants.
Nearby cities: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Tacoma, Renton
Information Systems Jobs in Bellevue/Eastside
WAThe Eastside corridor houses Microsoft's main campus in Redmond, Nintendo of America, and T-Mobile's headquarters.
Nearby cities: Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish
Washington Tech Industry & Infrastructure
Washington's tech economy is essentially defined by Microsoft and Amazon. The Seattle metro hosts the headquarters of both, plus major engineering offices for Google, Meta, Apple, and a dense second-tier of cloud, AI, and enterprise tech employers. With no state income tax and University of Washington's CS program at the top of the western US, Washington consistently posts the highest tech-job concentration per capita of any US state.
Seattle / Bellevue / Redmond
Seattle metropolitan area
Headquarters of Microsoft (Redmond) and Amazon (Seattle); major engineering offices for Google, Meta, Apple, Tableau, Tableau, Expedia, Zillow, Costco IT. UW is the dominant CS feeder; total-comp at named employers regularly clears $200K for new bachelor's grads.
Spokane / Eastern Washington
Spokane metro
Smaller tech market focused on healthcare-IT (Providence), defense (Fairchild AFB-adjacent), and growing remote-work tech employment. Whitworth and WSU-Spokane feed the local market.
No state income tax. Washington levies a Business and Occupation tax on gross receipts that tech employers factor into compensation structures.
Washington Regulation Affecting Information Systems Graduates
Washington has emerged as one of the more active state legislatures on AI, biometric privacy, and consumer health data. The 2024 My Health My Data Act in particular is among the strictest US consumer health-data laws and shapes engineering practice at any company touching health-adjacent data.
Washington My Health My Data Act (MHMD)
Effective March 2024. Imposes strict requirements on collection, use, and sharing of consumer health data — broadly defined to include data inferring health status. Provides a private right of action.
Engineers at any company processing wellness, fitness, mental-health, or biometric data of WA users must implement consent, geofencing, and data-sharing restrictions. The law's broad scope of 'health data' makes it relevant for surprising amounts of consumer-tech work.
Read moreWashington Biometric Identifiers Act
Requires notice and consent before enrolling biometric identifiers in a database for commercial purposes.
Similar in shape to Illinois BIPA though narrower; engineers building biometric features for WA users must implement consent flows.
Read moreWashington AI legislation (HB 1394 et al.)
Washington has passed and continues to develop AI-specific legislation around government use, deepfake elections content, and consumer disclosure.
AI/ML engineers building products serving WA users should monitor evolving disclosure and bias-audit requirements.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in Washington
Washington does not currently administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. Standard engineering disciplines require ABET-EAC accreditation for PE eligibility; software engineering is not a Washington-recognized PE discipline.
Washington licensing boardWashington Financial Aid Programs
Washington College Grant (WA Grant)
State grantUp to $11,840/yr at public 4-year, up to $4,180/yr at community college
WA residents with family income up to ~70% of state median income (~$70,000)
College Bound Scholarship
State scholarship (early commitment)Covers tuition and fees at participating WA institutions
WA students who sign up in 7th-8th grade with family income at or below 65% state median income; must maintain 2.0+ GPA and stay crime-free
Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA)
Application portalN/A — application channel
WA students ineligible for federal FAFSA (e.g., undocumented) — opens access to state aid programs
Opportunity Scholarship (STEM-specific)
STEM merit-need scholarshipUp to $22,500 total (across 5 years)
WA students pursuing STEM or healthcare bachelor's at participating WA institutions with family income at or below 125% state median
Transfer Pathways for Information Systems Degrees in Washington
State Transfer System
Washington's statewide articulation system provides excellent transfer pathways for Information Systems students, enabling seamless progression from community colleges to four-year universities. The Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) guarantees admission to Washington public universities for students completing designated associate degrees with satisfactory academic performance (SBCTC Transfer).
How Transfers Work
Students earning DTA associate degrees receive guaranteed admission to a state university, though competitive programs like UW Build require separate application after transfer. This pathway reduces total bachelor's degree costs by $20,000-$40,000 compared to four-year enrollment from freshman year.
Transfer Planning Tips
Business transfer pathways require strategic planning.
Pre-business students should complete calculus, statistics, microeconomics, accounting, and business writing prerequisites at community college to prepare for competitive admission to UW Build or WSU Carson. The Associate in Science Transfer (AS-T) Track 1 provides optimal preparation for business programs with quantitative prerequisites.
The Statewide Course Numbering System ensures equivalent courses transfer seamlessly among all public institutions, eliminating credit loss during transfer. Articulation agreements help specific pathways. Edmonds College maintains transfer agreements with UW Tacoma, Western Washington University, and Eastern Washington University.
Bellevue College's Computing and Software Development pathway articulates to UW Bothell programs. Seattle Central College's Pre-Business pathway prepares students for competitive business school admission. Running Start enables high school students to earn college credits tuition-free at community colleges, with 1,840 Running Start participants enrolling at UW in autumn 2025 alone.
Students can complete general education and introductory business/IS coursework at community college (average tuition ~$4,200/year) before transferring to complete specialized upper-division coursework.
Washington Take-Home Pay Advantage
Source: Washington Department of Revenue
Information Systems Job Market & Salary Data in Washington
Employment Outlook
Washington's Information Systems job market benefits from the unprecedented concentration of major technology employers and the critical role IS professionals play in managing enterprise technology strategy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15% growth for computer and information systems managers from 2024-2034, significantly faster than average for all occupations, with approximately 55,600 annual openings nationally due to employment growth and workforce replacement (BLS CIS Managers).
Salaries by Metro
Washington's market outperforms national projections due to continued technology sector expansion and digital transformation initiatives across industries. Salary data demonstrates exceptional earning potential. Computer and information systems managers earned median wages of $171,200 nationally in May 2024, with the information industry paying $196,060 and finance/insurance at $176,570.
High-Growth Sectors
Washington employers, particularly in the Seattle metro, pay 10-20% above national medians, translating to typical compensation of $185,000-$225,000 for experienced IS managers. Entry-level positions including business analyst and systems analyst start at $75,000-$95,000, with mid-career professionals earning $110,000-$150,000 before reaching management-track salaries.
Boeing's extensive Washington operations create unique IS opportunities in aerospace and defense. Boeing employs thousands of IT professionals across Puget Sound facilities managing engineering systems, supply chain technology, and enterprise applications. Microsoft's 54,000 regional employees include substantial IS and IT management roles beyond software development.
Amazon's retail, logistics, and AWS divisions require business systems analysts connecting technology capabilities with operational requirements. T-Mobile's Bellevue headquarters employs IS professionals managing telecommunications business systems. For related career paths, explore our data analytics programs, business intelligence degrees, or IT management programs.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Information Systems Programs in Washington
Online Programs
1 available in Washington
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Information Systems Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 12
- Median Tuition
- $20,400
- Total Programs
- 5
- Median Tuition
- $5,900
- Total Programs
- 133
- Median Tuition
- $5,700
- Total Programs
- 98
- Median Tuition
- $8,700
- Total Programs
- 110
- Median Tuition
- $7,100
- Total Programs
- 39
- Median Tuition
- $44,200
- Total Programs
- 38
- Median Tuition
- $12,800
- Total Programs
- 22
- Median Tuition
- $12,100
Information Systems Degree Programs in Washington: FAQ
What are the best information systems degree programs in Washington?
How much do information systems degree programs cost in Washington?
What salary can information systems degree graduates earn in Washington?
Are there online information systems degree programs in Washington?
What companies hire information systems degree graduates in Washington?
Is an information systems degree program worth it in Washington?
How long do information systems degree programs take in Washington?
What financial aid is available for information systems degree students in Washington?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Washington salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.