Ellensburg, Washington has a population of about 18,913. The city’s median household income is $49,888 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 41.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 30 accredited schools offering education programs near Ellensburg. In Washington, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $161,090 annually (BLS, May 2024).
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 30 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Ellensburg. Distances are calculated from Ellensburg city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Washington University | Ellensburg, WA | 0.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Yakima Valley College | Yakima, WA | 28.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee, WA | 31.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Heritage University | Toppenish, WA | 43.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake, WA | 58.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Green River College | Auburn, WA | 79.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Renton Technical College | Renton, WA | 83.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Bellevue College | Bellevue, WA | 85.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Columbia Basin College | Pasco, WA | 85.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Highline College | Des Moines, WA | 86.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Washington schools on the Washington education page.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Washington, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $99,640 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $99,110 |
| Middle School Teacher | $99,150 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $66,150 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $161,090 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $110,310 |
| Tutor | $44,450 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $83,930 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,913 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $49,888 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 41.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Education-related employment in Kittitas County | 139 workers, 21 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory has 30 accredited schools offering education programs near Ellensburg. The closest is Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA (0.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Highline College (86.6 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
Based on BLS May 2024 state wage data, the top-paying education-related roles in Washington are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($161,090), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($110,310), Secondary School Teacher ($99,640). Wages for Ellensburg workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Yakima, WA is 28.2 miles from Ellensburg and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Ellensburg’s median household income of $49,888 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ellensburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Washington public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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