Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of Washington is a public national university located in Seattle, Washington. UW is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at UW is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $68,925 10 years after enrolling, 3rd in Washington, and in the top 10% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, UW bachelor students earn 8% more than the national average. UW is ranked 1st in Washington.
University of Washington’s median net annual cost of $12,017 and average years to graduate of 4.4 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at UW sorted by number of graduates - Research&Experimental Psych, Computer Science, Computer and Information Sciences, Comms & Media Studies, Poli Sci/Government, Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$12,017
Average years to graduate
4.4
Finance
Rank: #8
Economic score: 0.86
Electrical Engineering
Rank: #17
Economic score: 0.9
Civil Engineering
Rank: #13
Economic score: 1.05
Economics
Rank: #49
Economic score: 1.56
Mathematics
Rank: #37
Economic score: 1.69
Sociology
Rank: #15
Economic score: 2.18
Public Health
Rank: #17
Economic score: 2.55
Biology
Rank: #74
Economic score: 3.33
Cellular Biology & Anatomical Science
Rank: #4
Economic score: 3.61
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #76
Economic score: 5.01
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at UW - Computer and Information Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Systems Analysis, Public Administration, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #49
Economic score: 0.38
Applied Mathematics
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.43
Educ. Administration
Rank: #160
Economic score: 0.44
Education-grades & methods
Rank: #105
Economic score: 0.49
Legal Research
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.5
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.61
Public Health
Rank: #62
Economic score: 0.69
Social Work
Rank: #140
Economic score: 0.85
Library Science
Rank: #47
Economic score: 0.99
Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment
Rank: #88
Economic score: 1.02
The average student at University of Washington takes 4.4 years to graduate, with 84% graduating within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at UW is 26% more than the state average and 17% more than the average for all national universities in the country.
At UW, Pell Grant recipients represent 20% of the measured graduating class, 15% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at UW graduates within 4.4 years.
UW is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of Washington’s economic mobility score of 19.09 is calculated by adjusting the 0.58 economic score of lower-income students by the 20% pell grant recipients within the student body. UW’s EMS of 19.09 ranks in the top 50% nationally.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at University of Washington pays $12,017 a year, $17,302 less than the $29,319 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $12,017
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At UW, 41% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $12,017 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 20% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,832. This is 34% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,460
Pell grants
$5,080
State grants
$7,595
Institutional grants
$7,752
University of Washington offers 2 bachelor programs, both of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level UW offers 12 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
14
Percentage of programs online
3%
University of Washington's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 53% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 48,840 applicants, of which 26,121 were admitted and 7,252 enrolled. UW doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
95%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
73%
59%
In-state
64%
68%
1st generation
33%
35%
White
36%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
9%
15%
Asian
26%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
24%
12%