University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, Washington · Public · 90.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 91/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Washington-Bothell Campus scores 91 (Exceptional Value). Average earnings six years out hit $50,300 - solid for a public school with in-state tuition of $12,919. The real story is what happens at 10 years: graduates earn $78,466 at the decade mark, reflecting how quickly tech-track graduates accelerate. The payback period is just 4.4 years, best explained by a program mix dominated by Computer Science (202 graduates), Business Administration (227 graduates), and Registered Nursing (116 graduates). Net price is only $12,319 on average, and the school carries a 0.291 debt-to-earnings ratio. The weak point is completion: only 65.3% of students finish. That is the main risk factor for students who enroll. The UW name on a diploma - even from the Bothell campus - carries weight with Pacific Northwest employers.
University of Washington-Bothell Campus scores in the top 5% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,919/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $43,155/yr |
| Average net price | $12,319/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $49,276 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $78,466 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $50,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,615 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $155 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,457 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,919/year ($43,155/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $12,319/year, or roughly $49,276 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $5,573/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,993/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,615, which works out to about $155 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($50,300) and comes to 0.29, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,573 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,350 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,415 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,215 |
| $110,001+ | $25,993 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 pay just $5,573 per year at UW Bothell - less than $6k annually for a UW-affiliated degree. Over four years that is roughly $22,000 total. Against an average starting salary of $50,300 for all graduates, the payback math is strong.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Families in the $30,001-48,000 range pay $6,350 per year; those in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $8,415. The slope is modest - net price rises about $2,000 between those brackets. The $75,001-110,000 bracket jumps to $15,215, a steeper climb that middle-income families should note. Overall, middle-income students still get good value given the strong earning outcomes across the tech and nursing programs.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110k+) pay $25,993. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.291 is well within sustainable range. Bothell offers smaller classes but carries slightly less brand weight for the most competitive employers.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Washington-Bothell Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $78,771 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $175,616 | A |
| Biology | $59,443 | B |
| Public Health | $63,666 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $98,632 | A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $64,153 | B |
| Clinical Psychology | $52,771 | B |
| Accounting | $88,393 | B+ |
| Education, General | $65,217 | B |
| Marketing | $88,114 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is the anchor program at UW Bothell. With 202 graduates and median first-year earnings of $128,887 rising to $175,616 at four years, this is a strong ROI program. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.125 - graduates carry about $16,118 in debt against earnings that quickly exceed $100k. Graduates who pivot into roles like software engineer, data engineer, or cloud infrastructure find starting salaries well above the state median. The A ROI grade reflects outstanding financial return relative to cost.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest single program at UW Bothell with 227 graduates. First-year median earnings of $49,004 climb to $78,771 at four years post-graduation. The debt-to-earnings ratio sits at 0.306, carrying a B+ grade. Graduates typically pursue roles in operations, project management, supply chain, and finance functions at mid-to-large employers in the greater Seattle market. Cost is low relative to outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing graduates from UW Bothell earn $86,212 in their first year - well above what most nursing programs produce. By year four that rises to $98,632. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.217 with an A grade. With 116 annual graduates, the program is mid-size and maintains manageable cohort ratios.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Washington-Bothell Campus’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.6% |
| Enrollment | 5,457 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,164 |
With a 90.6% admissions rate, UW Bothell is accessible to most applicants. The school does not publish SAT or ACT bands publicly, so selectivity signals come from program-level capacity rather than test cutoffs. Computer Science and nursing have tighter enrollment limits than the overall admissions rate suggests.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The payback period at CWU is 8 years; at UW Bothell it is 4.4 years.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus (this school) | 91 | $12,319 | $78,466 |
| Michigan Technological University | 89 | $14,182 | $78,198 |
| University of California-Merced | 84 | $11,983 | $64,368 |
| Sonoma State University | 81 | $12,885 | $65,986 |
| Central Washington University | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
Who Thrives Here
Students who come in with a clear STEM or nursing direction and stay focused tend to do well here. The 91% admissions rate means the school admits broadly, so it attracts first-generation students, community college transfers, and career changers. Pell Grant recipients make up 28.6% of enrollment. Students who arrive undecided or without strong study habits face a real dropout risk given the 65% completion rate.
Transfer Pathways
UW Bothell has explicit articulation agreements with Washington community colleges, particularly for students completing the Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA).
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether University of Washington-Bothell Campus is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $49,276 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $78,466 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.4 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $14,615 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $50,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
University of Washington-Bothell Campus: Common Questions
Is University of Washington-Bothell Campus worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Washington-Bothell Campus pays off. It scores 91/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $12,319 a year after aid ($49,276 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $78,466 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.4 years to earn back.
How much does University of Washington-Bothell Campus cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,319 a year, or roughly $49,276 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Washington-Bothell Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $78,466 ten years after enrolling, roughly $36,666 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Washington-Bothell Campus?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.4 years for University of Washington-Bothell Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Washington-Bothell Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,615, against average earnings of $50,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at University of Washington-Bothell Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.