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Urban Studies/Affairs at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

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%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Urban Studies/Affairs 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

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $47,585 at University of Washington-Seattle Campus come in 16% above the national median of $40,998 for Urban Studies/Affairs programs.

The 11.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 37% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $47,585 far exceeding the $15,757 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #5 out of 25 programs, University of Washington-Seattle Campus's Urban Studies/Affairs program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $47,585 to $66,334 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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/Affairs at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Washington-Seattle Campus's Urban Studies/Affairs program score?

This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Urban Studies/Affairs graduates.

How vulnerable is Urban Studies/Affairs to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Urban Studies/Affairs 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/Affairs?

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 →