University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus at a Glance
The University of Washington Tacoma is a campus of the University of Washington and is located in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It is one of three campuses of the university, alongside the main campus in Seattle and UW Bothell in Bothell. UW Tacoma opened its first classrooms in repurposed warehouses in downtown Tacoma in 1990 and opened its permanent campus in 1997. The president and board of regents of the University of Washington oversee the Tacoma campus, which falls under the universit…
1990
36 years old
5,135
4,291 undergrad · 696 grad
347
Identity
How to Apply to University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Official admissions page$60
Is University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Worth It?
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $10,163/year net price and $78,466 median earnings, graduates earn 7.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 63% graduation rate means roughly 37% 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-Tacoma Campus delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Washington-Tacoma Campus compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 19 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-Tacoma Campus | 100 | $10,163 | $78,466 |
| #2 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 100 | $12,319 | $78,466 |
| #3 | Michigan Technological University | 94 | $14,182 | $78,198 |
| #4 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | 81 | $16,298 | $82,957 |
| #5 | Charter Oak State College | 68 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| #6 | Worcester State University | 66 | $13,381 | $60,624 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Washington-Tacoma Campus's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in WA.
Best Programs at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
The highest-earning program at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $71,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at $25,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from University of Washington-Tacoma Campus earns $71,100, while a Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduate earns $25,500. 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: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $12,500 in median debt vs. $19,995 for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,163/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $60,800 | $60,800 | $14,633 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $53,900 | $53,900 | $18,072 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $53,800 | $53,800 | $13,672 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,600 | $44,600 | $15,000 |
| Marketing | $44,200 | $44,200 | $14,823 |
| 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 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $34,400 | $34,400 | $14,875 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $33,400 | $33,400 | $14,810 |
| Psychology, General | $32,800 | $32,800 | $16,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $32,500 | $32,500 | $15,995 |
| Area Studies | $32,300 | $32,300 | $17,086 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $30,300 | $30,300 | $17,612 |
| Biology, General | $30,000 | $30,000 | $15,269 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $29,700 | $29,700 | $14,207 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $29,400 | $29,400 | $15,672 |
| 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 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $25,500 | $25,500 | $19,995 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Tacoma, WA
- Student Body
- 4,185 students
- Admission Rate
- 83%
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,163
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $78,466
- Median Student Debt
- $14,615