Human Services at City University of Seattle

Peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,630 for a bachelor's in Human Services, while comparable graduates in Washington typically earn slightly more at $38,066. That national benchmark sits below both Western Washington and Central Washington's reported outcomes, suggesting City University of Seattle's program may lag behind state competitors—though without actual data from this school, that's an informed guess rather than a certainty.

The estimated debt figure of $32,524 raises more concrete concerns. While it aligns with the national median, it's substantially higher than Washington's typical $19,967 for similar programs. That's an extra $12,500 in loans compared to what peer institutions in the state typically require, which matters significantly when your starting salary hovers around $36,000-$38,000. The debt-to-earnings ratio near 0.89 means nearly a full year's salary in loans—manageable but not comfortable in a helping profession known for modest pay scales.

The fundamental challenge here is making a major financial commitment based entirely on estimates from other schools. If City University of Seattle's outcomes matched Washington's better-performing programs, the investment might pencil out. But paying above-state-average debt for potentially below-state-average earnings creates a risky scenario. Before committing, insist on speaking with recent graduates directly to understand their actual job placement and salary outcomes.