U Washington: $379k for Non-Residents
The most expensive public school option for OOS students. Rivals private school costs.
U Washington: $379k for Non-Residents
U Washington Dental: Why Non-Residents Pay $379k for a Public School Education
Most pre-dents assume public schools offer value. At University of Washington, non-residents pay $94,750 per year — more than Harvard, Columbia, or Penn.
The $379,000 Reality Check
Here's what the data reveals about UW's out-of-state pricing:
- Total 4-year cost: $379,000 (tuition only)
- National median tuition: $61,748/year
- UW's premium over median: 53.4% higher
- Outlier status: Among the top 10 most expensive programs nationally
To put this in perspective: UW's non-resident tuition exceeds our statistical outlier threshold of $104,241 by nearly $10,000. In data science terms, this makes it a 2.5 standard deviation event — happening in less than 1% of cases.
The Public School Paradox
While you stress about getting into UW, consider this comparison:
| School | Type | Annual Tuition | 4-Year Total |
| -------- | ------ | ---------------- | --------------- |
|---|---|---|---|
| U Washington (OOS) | Public | $94,750 | $379,000 |
| Oregon Health & Science | Public | $72,840 | $291,360 |
| USC | Private | $91,827 | $367,308 |
| UCLA (OOS) | Public | $65,901 | $263,604 |
Why pay private school prices at a public institution when OHSU — just 3 hours south — saves you $87,640 over four years?
The ROI Calculation Nobody Talks About
The average dentist in Washington state earns $185,840 annually (BLS, 2023). At UW's price point:
- Years to break even: 2.04 years of full salary
- Monthly loan payment (10 years @ 6.5%): $4,298
- Percentage of starting salary: 27.8%
Compare this to in-state students paying $47,375/year — literally half the price for the exact same degree, same professors, same clinical rotations.
The Geographic Arbitrage
Our analysis found 37 dental schools where out-of-state students pay less than UW charges:
- Marquette University (Private): $84,328/year
- University of Colorado (Public OOS): $88,731/year
- Temple University (Public OOS): $82,996/year
Each offers comparable board pass rates and clinical opportunities.
Devil's Advocate: "But It's a Top Program!"
Critics might say "UW's reputation justifies the premium..."
However, the data shows UW's average DAT score is 20.3 — exactly matching the national median of 20.25. Their admission standards don't reflect elite selectivity that would warrant a 53% tuition premium.
The Action Plan
- Calculate your true ROI: Use our widget above to compare UW's cost against your other acceptances
- Consider geography: Moving to Oregon saves you $21,910 per year
- Negotiate: Some students report success asking UW to match other public school offers
The Bottom Line
University of Washington has created a two-tier system where geography determines if you pay $189,500 or $379,000 for identical training. That $189,500 difference? It's enough to:
- Buy a dental practice
- Fund 7 years of retirement contributions
- Pay off your loans 5 years faster
The data doesn't lie: UW's non-resident tuition represents one of the worst value propositions in dental education. Choose wisely.