Computer Science at University of Washington-Bothell Campus

UW Bothell's Computer Science program matches the flagship Seattle campus in first-year earnings ($128,887) while maintaining a 92% admission rate—a remarkable combination that makes it one of Washington's best-kept secrets. These graduates earn 65% more than the typical Washington computer science grad and nearly double the national median, placing this program in the 95th percentile both statewide and nationally. With modest debt of $16,118, the financial math works out to just 1.5 months of first-year salary, giving graduates immediate financial flexibility.

The sustained earnings growth to $144,297 by year four reflects strong placement in Seattle's thriving tech sector, where companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and the region's extensive startup ecosystem compete for talent. That this relatively accessible campus delivers outcomes rivaling elite institutions speaks to both the strength of UW's computer science curriculum and the hunger among Seattle employers for skilled developers, regardless of which UW campus appears on the diploma.

For parents weighing options, this represents exceptional value: your child gets access to one of the country's hottest tech markets, earns what top-tier programs deliver, carries minimal debt, and faces significantly less competitive admissions than the Seattle campus. Unless your student is already competitive for Stanford or MIT, it's hard to find a better risk-adjusted bet in computer science education.