University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, Washington · Public · 39.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 94/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Washington-Seattle has an ROI score of 94 and an Exceptional Value rating. Graduates earn an average $50,300 six years out, climbing to a median $78,466 at ten years - driven heavily by the region's tech industry concentration. The 85.2% completion rate is well above the national average for public universities. Computer and Information Sciences and Computer Science are the dominant high-volume programs, with the CS program graduating 495 students per year and producing median 4-year earnings over $175,000. Engineering disciplines across the board show debt-to-earnings ratios under 0.3 - meaning grads typically pay off debt in under three years. In-state students at the lowest income level pay just $6,384 per year in net price.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus scores in the top 3% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,973/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $43,209/yr |
| Average net price | $14,091/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $56,364 |
| 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 | 4.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 85.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 31,942 |
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: $12,973/year ($43,209/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $14,091/year, or roughly $56,364 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 $6,384/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,019/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 | $6,384 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,039 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,110 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,328 |
| $110,001+ | $30,019 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $6,384 per year - roughly $25,500 for four years. With median debt of $14,615 and 6-year earnings of $50,300, this is an extraordinarily strong deal for low-income students in Washington State. The investment is particularly sound for students entering tech or nursing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $7,039 and the 48-75k bracket pays $8,110 - a gentle slope with cost still well below the national average net price. The 75-110k bracket jumps to $14,328, where cost starts to feel more like a real financial commitment. But even there, the earnings premium at UW is strong enough to make the math work for most majors. Middle-income families should prioritize staying in-state if at all possible.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $30,019 per year in net price, and out-of-state students pay $43,209 in tuition. The 0.291 debt-to-earnings ratio and 4.5-year payback period remain favorable even at full cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Washington-Seattle Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $114,798 | A |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $57,718 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $175,616 | A |
| International Relations | $72,487 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $97,452 | A |
| Public Health | $63,666 | B |
| Economics | $87,239 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $64,153 | B |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $58,818 | B |
| Electrical Engineering | $116,010 | A |
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 and Information Sciences
The highest-volume CS-adjacent program at UW, with 622 graduates annually. Median earnings hit $73,385 one year out and $114,798 at four years, fueled by proximity to Amazon, Microsoft, and hundreds of Seattle tech firms that recruit heavily from UW. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.222 is excellent - grads graduate with median debt of $16,277 and clear it quickly. The ROI grade is A. This program functions as a pipeline to software engineering and data roles at scale, with enough graduates to suggest employers actively target it.
Computer Science
495 graduates per year with median earnings of $128,887 at year one. Four-year earnings rise to $175,616. Debt sits at $16,118 with a 0.125 debt-to-earnings ratio.
Finance and Financial Management
304 graduates, median 1-year earnings of $63,500 and $97,452 at four years. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.224, ROI grade A. Finance grads from UW benefit from Seattle's growing financial services sector and access to the Foster School of Business recruiting network. The pay trajectory from year 1 to year 4 suggests strong upward mobility in financial analyst and banking roles. Students who complete this program in UW's Foster School typically enter regional banking, tech finance functions, or financial advisory firms.
Registered Nursing
143 graduates with 1-year median earnings of $86,212 - reflecting Washington State's relatively high nursing wages. Four-year earnings hit $98,632. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.217 earns an A grade, and with just $18,750 in median debt, nursing grads here have a strong debt-load profile. Hospital systems in King County and surrounding areas consistently absorb UW nursing graduates, with union-scale wages common in Seattle-area healthcare.
Economics
287 graduates, 1-year earnings of $53,934 rising to $87,239 at four years. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.263, ROI grade B+. Economics at UW leads to consulting, policy analysis, technology economics roles, and finance positions. The four-year earnings trajectory reflects substantial career progression, as early-career economists often enter at lower initial pay then move into higher-earning analytics or finance tracks. The debt load of $14,166 is moderate and manageable.
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-Seattle 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 | 39.1% |
| Enrollment | 31,942 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 14.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $15,198 |
UW-Seattle admits about 39% of applicants. The school does not publish SAT or ACT band data. Competitive applicants typically bring strong GPAs and AP/IB course loads. Out-of-state students face a higher bar and significantly higher costs ($43,209 in-state tuition versus $12,973).
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus (this school) | 94 | $14,091 | $78,466 |
| University of California-Davis | 95 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| University of Maryland-College Park | 94 | $15,678 | $82,860 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 93 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| Central Washington University | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Washington-Seattle Campus side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
The 39% admit rate signals real selectivity. Students comfortable with a large research environment thrive here; the campus culture rewards self-direction. With only 14.9% Pell Grant recipients, the student body skews less economically diverse, but low-income aid is strong for those who qualify. Pre-med, pre-law, and business students find strong alumni networks and internship pipelines to Seattle's corporate base.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether University of Washington-Seattle 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 $56,364 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $78,466 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.5 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 85.2% graduation rate, 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-Seattle Campus: Common Questions
Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Washington-Seattle Campus pays off. It scores 94/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $14,091 a year after aid ($56,364 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $78,466 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.5 years to earn back.
How much does University of Washington-Seattle 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 $14,091 a year, or roughly $56,364 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-Seattle 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-Seattle 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 4.5 years for University of Washington-Seattle Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Washington-Seattle 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-Seattle Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 85.2%, 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.