University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Washington-Seattle Campus — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus at a Glance
The University of Washington is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, it is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast.
1861
165 years old
$6.0B
$5.96 billion (2025)
51,719
35,397 undergrad · 16,322 grad
5,803
807 acres
Identity
Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus Worth It?
University of Washington-Seattle Campus is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $14,091/year net price and $78,466 median earnings, graduates earn 5.6× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 84% graduation rate means roughly 16% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Median student debt of $14,615 is manageable at just 19% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: University of Washington-Seattle Campus delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Washington-Seattle Campus compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 18 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-Seattle Campus | 100 | $14,091 | $78,466 |
| #2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 100 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| #3 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #4 | University of California-Davis | 100 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| #5 | University of Georgia | 100 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| #6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 100 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Washington-Seattle Campus's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Washington-Seattle Campus
The highest-earning program at University of Washington-Seattle Campus is Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at $114,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at $23,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions graduate from University of Washington-Seattle Campus earns $114,900, while a East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduate earns $23,700. 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: Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions graduates carry $28,625 in median debt vs. $11,698 for East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,091/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $114,900 | $114,900 | $28,625 |
| 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 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $69,100 | $69,100 | $16,631 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $68,300 | $68,300 | $15,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $68,200 | $68,200 | $13,757 |
| Materials Engineering | $66,800 | $66,800 | $17,542 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $62,500 | $62,500 | $17,495 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $62,500 | $62,500 | $14,815 |
| Civil Engineering | $61,900 | $61,900 | $16,010 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $60,800 | $60,800 | $13,197 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $60,800 | $60,800 | $14,633 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $60,300 | $60,300 | $15,000 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $59,200 | $59,200 | $14,927 |
| Industrial Engineering | $58,500 | $58,500 | $12,423 |
| Applied Mathematics | $57,200 | $57,200 | N/A |
| Chemical Engineering | $56,800 | $56,800 | $12,555 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $54,900 | $54,900 | $10,192 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $54,100 | $54,100 | $19,555 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $53,900 | $53,900 | $18,072 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $53,800 | $53,800 | $13,672 |
| Social Sciences, General | $51,900 | $51,900 | $16,167 |
| Architecture | $47,400 | $47,400 | $20,841 |
| 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 |
| Economics | $44,000 | $44,000 | $18,477 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $43,700 | $43,700 | $12,500 |
| Physics | $43,100 | $43,100 | $18,501 |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $37,600 | $37,600 | $16,987 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $37,500 | $37,500 | $15,845 |
| Public Health | $36,200 | $36,200 | $16,197 |
| Political Science and Government | $35,800 | $35,800 | $16,850 |
| Social Work | $34,900 | $34,900 | $14,137 |
| Chemistry | $34,800 | $34,800 | $15,114 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $34,400 | $34,400 | $14,875 |
| Sociology | $33,900 | $33,900 | $15,706 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $33,400 | $33,400 | $14,810 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $33,300 | $33,300 | $12,890 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $33,200 | $33,200 | $18,122 |
| Education, Other | $33,000 | $33,000 | $12,430 |
| Psychology, General | $32,800 | $32,800 | $16,000 |
| Geography and Cartography | $32,800 | $32,800 | $15,256 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $32,500 | $32,500 | $15,995 |
| Area Studies | $32,300 | $32,300 | $17,086 |
| Journalism | $32,100 | $32,100 | $12,949 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $32,000 | $32,000 | $14,671 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $31,700 | $31,700 | $17,334 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $31,200 | $31,200 | $14,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $31,000 | $31,000 | $17,100 |
| Philosophy | $31,000 | $31,000 | $16,550 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $30,500 | $30,500 | $18,955 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $30,300 | $30,300 | $17,612 |
| Biology, General | $30,000 | $30,000 | $15,269 |
| City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | $29,700 | $29,700 | $17,630 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $29,700 | $29,700 | $14,207 |
| 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 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $29,000 | $29,000 | $15,580 |
| Anthropology | $29,000 | $29,000 | $15,904 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $28,600 | $28,600 | $17,368 |
| International/Global Studies | $28,500 | $28,500 | $13,598 |
| History | $28,000 | $28,000 | $17,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,200 | $27,200 | $16,353 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,600 | $26,600 | $15,762 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $25,500 | $25,500 | $19,995 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $24,800 | $24,800 | $11,960 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $24,200 | $24,200 | $16,875 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $23,700 | $23,700 | $11,698 |
Similar Colleges in WA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Seattle, WA
- Student Body
- 31,942 students
- Admission Rate
- 39%
- Graduation Rate
- 84%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,091
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $78,466
- Median Student Debt
- $14,615