Curricular freedom
highInterdisciplinary programs and individual study support flexible degree design.
COLLEGE FIT GUIDE
Evidence checked · 2026-10-06
Evergreen State College
Evergreen organizes undergraduate study through interdisciplinary programs, coordinated studies, individual learning, and narrative evaluations. It favors students who want to connect fields and shape a flexible degree, while requiring more self-direction than a conventional department-and-major structure.
- Interdisciplinary coordinated study
- Academic choices and structure
- Separate institutional opportunity from individual access
QUICK READ
- Location
- Olympia, Washington · Suburban forest setting
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 2,160
- Aggregate admission rate
- 96.4%
- Average net price
- $24,319
FIT SNAPSHOT
How this environment may feel
These are directional interpretations of the college environment, not a score or universal verdict.
Unconventional models
highNarrative evaluations and coordinated programs differ from conventional college structures.
Collaboration
highTeam-taught, theme-based programs make collaborative learning prominent.
Outdoor access
highThe wooded Olympia campus and Puget Sound region support outdoor access.
WHY IT MAY FIT
Consider Evergreen State College if…
- You want interdisciplinary study without rigid departmental boundaries.
- You value narrative feedback and reflection.
- You want substantial freedom to shape a degree.
- You like a forested campus near a state capital.
POSSIBLE TENSIONS
It may not fit if…
- You want a conventional major and familiar grading system.
- You need a tightly prescribed course sequence.
- You prefer a highly competitive academic culture.
- You want a major-city campus.
WHAT STANDS OUT
The environment behind the name
Interdisciplinary coordinated study
Students can follow semi-structured paths or combine interests through immersive, multi-subject programs.
Source: Academics
Academic choices and structure
Narrative evaluations document academic work and progress in place of relying only on letter grades.
Source: Narrative Evaluations
A setting that shapes the experience
Olympia, Washington gives students a distinct context for campus life, work, community, and recreation.
Source: Academics
LOOK CLOSER
Questions worth asking before you decide
Use these prompts during a visit, an information session, or a conversation with a current student.
- 1
Separate institutional opportunity from individual access
Evergreen documents substantial opportunities, but availability can differ by program, timing, prerequisites, capacity, and student initiative.
Source: Academics
- 2
Interpret scale and selectivity carefully
Federal data report 2,160 undergraduates and an aggregate admission rate of 96.4%. These figures describe the institution, not an individual applicant’s probability or a particular program’s experience.
- 3
Use the current price for your circumstances
Federal data report an average net price of $24,319. This historical average is not a quote; residency, income, housing, aid eligibility, and program costs can materially change what a family pays.
FEDERAL CLERY DATA
Campus safety statistics, with context
Federal Clery records describe reported incidents within defined campus geography. They are not a measure of crime prevalence or an overall safety rating.
2024 reported on-campus offenses:14
Per 1,000 enrolled:5.6
Reporting campuses:2
COMPARE THE TRADEOFFS
Schools that sharpen the question
A useful comparison for students evaluating Evergreen across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
A useful comparison for students evaluating Evergreen across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
A useful comparison for students evaluating Evergreen across academics, setting, scale, and student experience.
EVIDENCE
Sources and method
View the reviewed sources
- Academics - Evergreen State College (official, retrieved 2026-10-06)
- Narrative Evaluations - Evergreen State College (official, retrieved 2026-10-06)
- Evergreen State College institutional data - U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (federal, retrieved 2026-10-06)
Navastra interprets Evergreen’s documented academic environment, setting, opportunities, and federal reference fields through preference dimensions. The page describes documented structures, not every student’s experience. It does not calculate an individual fit score, predict admission, or estimate a financial-aid award. Read the methodology →
Programs, policies, costs, and campus life change. Verify current details with the college ↗
PERSONALIZE THE QUESTION