I have recently been admitted directly into UCLA and the University of Washington’s chemistry programs. I am a Washington resident. Which of the two schools has a better chemistry program and does it really matter to go to a school with the better chemistry program?
Both have state of the art chemistry programs and facilities and appear toward the top of this list of great chemistry programs in our neck of the woods:
Unless your family is very wealthy such that OOS tuition is pocket change, then this isn’t even a question: go to U Washington with in-state tuition. At the undergraduate level, their chemistry programs will be indistinguishable.
U Washington has an outstanding reputation in STEM in its own right.
^^^ I’m betting this is pocket change 
The top 1% in the country have annual incomes of $1.2 million or better according to http://www.investopedia.com/news/how-much-income-puts-you-top-1-5-10
The typical poster here is much more likely to be in the top percentiles than the bottom. So if 5% of those posting here come from families in the top 1%, the chances are 1 in 20 that the OP has a family with that kind of income. Which makes the $25K OOS tuition indeed pocket change…
As a loyal CA resident trying to raise $1 million for the UC system, I just need 10 OOS kids to attend. The OP sounds like a great candidate!!!
I’m with you @mikemac, but I’d rather have them come from somewhere other than Washington. 
@mikemac, closer to $35K/yr difference in tuition, room and board, but your point still stands (and at that rate, you only need 7 to 8 to raise the $1 million).