Computer Software and Media Applications at University of Washington-Bothell Campus

UW Bothell's software program graduates start at $47,112—a solid middle-of-the-pack outcome in Washington, matching the state median but well short of DigiPen's $81,885 or even the main UW Seattle campus. More concerning, this ranks just at the state median despite Bothell's selectivity advantage (1376 SAT average). Four years out, earnings reach $57,813, decent growth but still leaving graduates trailing peers from stronger programs.

The debt picture is the bright spot: $14,500 is remarkably low, less than half the national median and among the lowest debt loads you'll find for any bachelor's program. That 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can pay off their loans in roughly four months of earnings—an excellent position. The 23% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests steady career progression, even if the starting point isn't spectacular.

Here's what matters: your child will graduate with minimal debt and employable skills, but they won't have the same earnings trajectory as graduates from the flagship Seattle campus or specialized schools like DigiPen. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable—a few outliers could significantly shift the averages either direction. If keeping debt low is the priority and your child can leverage the UW name effectively, this works. If maximizing earning potential matters more, the Seattle campus or DigiPen would be worth the comparison.