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Social Sciences · Urban Studies Rank #6 of 25

Urban Studiesat University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Graduates earn $47,585/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Urban Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $589K; scenarios range from $541K to $597K depending on AI disruption.

Tacoma, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
57 SOLID
58
Optimistic
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,585
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$589K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
45% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Your strong showing in Urban Studies/Affairs at UW-Tacoma reflects the dynamic growth and evolving needs of the Puget Sound region. This program uniquely positions you to engage directly with the complex issues shaping urban environments in Tacoma and beyond, from sustainable development to social equity. The curriculum likely emphasizes practical, applied skills and community engagement, fostering strong connections with local government agencies, non-profits, and planning firms that are actively hiring. This regional embeddedness explains why graduates often find themselves in impactful roles managing projects or shaping policy within a few years. Given the evolving landscape and the potential for AI to automate some data-heavy tasks, focusing on human-centric skills like community organizing, policy advocacy, and nuanced problem-solving will be crucial. Actively seek internships and build relationships within local organizations to leverage the program's strong regional ties.

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
$541K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$589K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple11.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$597K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple11.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Urban Studies 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
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Sociologists
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$101,690/yr
High
3
Urban and regional planners
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 3,400 openings/yr
$83,720/yr
Moderate
4
Social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$75,040/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Urban Studies

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

Highest earnings
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
69
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
16.7x
ROI
San Francisco State University
CA · Public
60
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
18.5x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
40
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
0.8x
ROI
Same state (WA)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
57
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
12.1x
ROI
California State University-Northridge
CA · Public
64
DW Score
$47K
1-yr earn
23.9x
ROI
Also at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Other top programs at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Urban Studies at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Urban Studies at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus?

A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Urban Studies field.

Will AI replace Urban Studies careers?

With 37% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $541,463 in decade earnings vs $597,258 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Washington-Tacoma Campus's Urban Studies program stand out?

Ranked #6 of 25 programs nationally, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.