Area Studies at University of Washington-Bothell Campus

UW-Bothell's Area Studies program punches well above its weight for an open-access campus. With first-year earnings of $43,668, graduates match the state's top programs—including the flagship Seattle campus—while carrying 27% less debt than the national median. This combination places it at the 75th percentile nationally for earnings, a remarkable showing for a program at a school that admits 92% of applicants.

The debt picture particularly stands out. At under $15,000, it's the lowest among Washington's Area Studies programs and translates to a manageable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings of $55,743 represent 28% growth, suggesting graduates gain traction in their careers rather than plateauing. For context, Area Studies programs typically struggle with earnings—the national median sits at just $34,211—making this program's performance notably stronger.

The moderate sample size warrants some caution, but the pattern is clear: this program delivers outcomes comparable to more selective Washington universities while keeping debt low. For families considering Area Studies who want to minimize financial risk, UW-Bothell offers the earnings potential of flagship programs at roughly half the typical borrowing cost.