Urban Studies at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Urban Studies/Affairs
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,585/yr (16% vs median)
AI Risk High (37% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (111,900 openings/yr)
ROI 11.7x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 25 Urban Studies/Affairs programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

Your Urban Studies/Affairs degree from the University of Washington-Seattle places you directly into one of the most dynamic and complex urban environments in the nation. Seattle's rapid growth, fueled by its tech industry and a constant need for sustainable development, creates intense demand for professionals who can navigate complex challenges in housing, infrastructure, and community equity. This program's strong reputation and location mean you'll find ample opportunities to engage with real-world projects, whether in city planning departments, private development firms, or community advocacy groups. The interdisciplinary nature of urban studies here likely equips you with diverse skills, explaining the strong progression into management roles. While AI is transforming data-heavy aspects of planning, your unique value will lie in critical thinking, ethical considerations, and human-centric design. Focus on developing strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills to remain indispensable in a changing field.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Urban Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $597K $589K $541K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.8x 11.7x 10.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.6x 3.5x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,572
Out-of-state: $167,988 (3.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,940
-7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,757
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,334
39% growth from Year 1

About University of Washington-Seattle Campus

A 43% admission rate makes University of Washington-Seattle Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 31,588 in Seattle, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Washington-Seattle Campus →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
Urban and regional planners $83,720/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Urban Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Washington-Seattle Campus's Urban Studies program score?
This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Urban Studies graduates.
How vulnerable is Urban Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Urban Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 37% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of Washington-Seattle Campus rank so high for Urban Studies?
The #5 ranking out of 25 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →