University of Washington-Bothell Campus
University of Washington-Bothell Campus — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Washington-Bothell Campus at a Glance
The University of Washington Bothell is a campus of the University of Washington and is located in Bothell, Washington. It was founded in 1989 and is one of the three campuses of the University of Washington, alongside the Seattle main campus and UW Tacoma. The campus is located near the junction of Interstate 405 and State Route 522; it is shared with Cascadia College, a public community college.
1989
37 years old
6,361
5,755 undergrad · 606 grad
357
128 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Official admissions pageJanuary 15
November 15 (EARLY ACTION)
$70
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is University of Washington-Bothell Campus Worth It?
University of Washington-Bothell Campus is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $12,319/year net price and $78,466 median earnings, graduates earn 6.4× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 67% graduation rate means roughly 33% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
With a 91% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Median student debt of $14,615 is manageable at just 19% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: University of Washington-Bothell Campus delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Washington-Bothell Campus compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 29 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 100 | $12,319 | $78,466 |
| #2 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #3 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #4 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | 100 | $10,163 | $78,466 |
| #5 | Michigan Technological University | 94 | $14,182 | $78,198 |
| #6 | University of California-Merced | 93 | $11,983 | $64,368 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Washington-Bothell Campus's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in WA.
Best Programs at University of Washington-Bothell Campus
The highest-earning program at University of Washington-Bothell Campus is Computer Engineering at $112,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $26,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of Washington-Bothell Campus earns $112,300, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $26,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $11,328 in median debt vs. $15,762 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $12,319/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $112,300 | $112,300 | $11,328 |
| Computer Science | $92,000 | $92,000 | $15,641 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $71,100 | $71,100 | $12,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $68,300 | $68,300 | $15,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $68,200 | $68,200 | $13,757 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $60,800 | $60,800 | $13,197 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $53,900 | $53,900 | $18,072 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $53,800 | $53,800 | $13,672 |
| Mathematics | $44,800 | $44,800 | $15,049 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,600 | $44,600 | $15,000 |
| Marketing | $44,200 | $44,200 | $14,823 |
| Physics | $43,100 | $43,100 | $18,501 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $37,500 | $37,500 | $15,845 |
| Political Science and Government | $35,800 | $35,800 | $16,850 |
| Chemistry | $34,800 | $34,800 | $15,114 |
| Area Studies | $32,300 | $32,300 | $17,086 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $32,000 | $32,000 | $14,671 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $31,200 | $31,200 | $14,500 |
| Philosophy | $31,000 | $31,000 | $16,550 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $30,300 | $30,300 | $17,612 |
| Biology, General | $30,000 | $30,000 | $15,269 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $29,600 | $29,600 | $15,000 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $29,500 | $29,500 | $13,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $29,400 | $29,400 | $15,672 |
| International/Global Studies | $28,500 | $28,500 | $13,598 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,200 | $27,200 | $16,353 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,600 | $26,600 | $15,762 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bothell, WA
- Student Body
- 5,457 students
- Admission Rate
- 91%
- Graduation Rate
- 67%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $12,319
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $78,466
- Median Student Debt
- $14,615