Home Schools University of Washington Architecture
Architecture · Architecture Rank #22 of 66

Architectureat University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Graduates earn $50,809/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Architecture average. Base-case 10-year earnings $596K; scenarios range from $548K to $608K depending on AI disruption.

Seattle, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
55 SOLID
56
Optimistic
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,809
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$596K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Washington

First-year earnings of $50,809 at University of Washington-Seattle Campus come in 11% above the national median of $45,895 for Architecture programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Architecture programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Architecture's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $50,809 far exceeding the $19,748 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #22 of 66 Architecture programs, University of Washington-Seattle Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $50,809 to $62,489 over five years — a 23% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$548K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple10.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$596K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple11.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$608K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple12.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Washington's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Architecture graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$101,480/yr
Moderate
3
Architects, except landscape and naval
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 7,800 openings/yr
$96,690/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Architecture

How University of Washington stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Notre Dame
IN · Private nonprofit
48
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
University of Miami
FL · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
65
DW Score
$61K
1-yr earn
16.5x
ROI
Top score
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
CA · Public
67
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
24.9x
ROI
Kennesaw State University
GA · Public
66
DW Score
$56K
1-yr earn
30.0x
ROI
Also at University of Washington

Other top programs at University of Washington

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Washington, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Architecture at University of Washington

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Architecture at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

A score of 55/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Architecture field.

Will AI replace Architecture careers?

With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $548,458 in decade earnings vs $607,832 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.