University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, Washington · Public · 82.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 91/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus scores 91 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale - an outstanding result driven by an earnings premium (earnings premium raw score 1.069) combined with a 4.2-year payback period. In-state tuition of $13,168, a $10,163 net price, and median debt of $14,615 make UW Tacoma an affordable access point to a UW degree. Average 6-year earnings of $50,300 are strong for a regional campus, and median 10-year earnings of $78,466 confirm sustained career progression. The 63.2% completion rate is the primary qualification - roughly one-third of enrolled students do not finish. Repayment rate of 83.7% at three years is solid. SAT and ACT data are not reported by the Scorecard. Computer and Information Sciences (268 graduates) is the volume-and-earnings anchor: $73,385 year one, $114,798 at four years, A-grade ROI. Nursing (101 graduates, $86,212 year one, A-grade ROI), Electrical Engineering (37 graduates, $81,989 year one), and Finance (52 graduates, $63,500 year one) add depth. The UW brand - shared with the flagship Seattle campus - carries significant regional employer weight that the Scorecard data only partially captures.
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus scores in the top 5% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,168/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $43,404/yr |
| Average net price | $10,163/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $40,652 |
| 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 | 4.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,185 |
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: $13,168/year ($43,404/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $10,163/year, or roughly $40,652 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 $4,458/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,183/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
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 | $4,458 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,135 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,748 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,449 |
| $110,001+ | $22,183 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $4,458 per year at UW Tacoma. Four-year total of roughly $17,832 against $50,300 average earnings and a 4.2-year payback is extraordinary value. CS and nursing graduates from low-income families at this net price face payback periods under two years. This is a compelling access story if completion can be achieved.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $6,748 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $11,449. Middle-income families retain exceptional value - particularly for CS, engineering, and nursing programs. The completion risk is the primary caveat.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $22,183 per year at UW Tacoma - roughly $89,000 over four years. At a 4.2-year payback and strong program-level earnings, even full-pay is defensible for CS, nursing, and engineering graduates.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $114,798 | A |
| Psychology | $54,016 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $78,771 | B+ |
| Registered Nursing | $98,632 | A |
| Biology | $59,443 | B |
| Accounting | $88,393 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $64,153 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $63,311 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $97,452 | A |
| Social Work | $59,256 | 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 and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (268 graduates) is UW Tacoma's anchor program: $73,385 year one, $114,798 at four years, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.222, median debt $16,277). At 268 graduates and $10,163 net price, this is a strong cost-to-CS-outcome ratio. The four-year trajectory to $114,798 reflects placement into Seattle tech sector and remote roles.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (101 graduates) earns $86,212 year one and $98,632 at four years - A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.217, median debt $18,750). Year-one earnings of $86,212 reflect strong Pierce County and King County hospital wages for UW-credentialed RNs. The A-grade ROI against a $10,163 net price makes nursing at UW Tacoma a clear value proposition.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (37 graduates) earns $81,989 year one and $116,010 at four years - A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.183, median debt $15,000). The four-year trajectory to $116,010 reflects advancement into systems engineering and senior technical roles in the Puget Sound technology and defense sectors. The $15,000 median debt against these earnings produces trivial debt-to-earnings ratios by four years.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (52 graduates) earns $63,500 year one and $97,452 at four years - A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.224, median debt $14,208). The four-year trajectory to $97,452 is exceptional for a regional campus finance program. UW Tacoma finance graduates entering Tacoma and Seattle banking, insurance, and corporate finance sectors benefit from the UW brand in employer hiring. At $14,208 median debt and $97,452 four-year earnings, the payback period is extremely short.
Psychology
Psychology (180 graduates) earns $34,660 year one and $54,016 at four years - C+-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.503, median debt $17,426). The low median debt of $17,426 keeps the ratio manageable. Psychology graduates at UW Tacoma entering social services, human resources, or research support roles face tighter financial circumstances, but the UW brand does provide some labor market advantage over smaller regional schools.
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-Tacoma 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 | 82.5% |
| Enrollment | 4,185 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,135 |
At 82.5%, UW Tacoma is broadly accessible. The high admission rate combined with the UW brand creates an unusual value proposition: an accessible entry point to a recognized state flagship system. The practical barrier is completion - 63.2% finish rates mean that enrollment does not guarantee a degree. Students should assess whether the commuter-campus, urban environment, and limited on-campus residential life fit their learning style and support needs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (this school) | 91 | $10,163 | $78,466 |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology | 90 | $16,298 | $82,957 |
| Michigan Technological University | 89 | $14,182 | $78,198 |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford | 84 | $16,798 | $73,997 |
| Central Washington University | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
Who Thrives Here
UW Tacoma admits 82.5% of applicants. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. Enrollment of 4,185 is mid-sized. The campus is urban and commuter-oriented, serving adults who often balance employment and family alongside coursework. This context explains the 63.2% completion rate - not primarily academic underpreparation but life circumstances. Students in CS, nursing, and engineering who commit to completion access UW brand credentials at a fraction of Seattle campus cost.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether University of Washington-Tacoma 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 $40,652 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $78,466 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.2 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-Tacoma Campus: Common Questions
Is University of Washington-Tacoma Campus worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Washington-Tacoma Campus pays off. It scores 91/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $10,163 a year after aid ($40,652 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $78,466 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.2 years to earn back.
How much does University of Washington-Tacoma 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 $10,163 a year, or roughly $40,652 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-Tacoma 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-Tacoma 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 4.2 years for University of Washington-Tacoma Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Washington-Tacoma 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-Tacoma Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.