Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Washington-Bothell Campus

UW-Bothell's Liberal Arts program graduates start well behind the curve—earning $30,437 in their first year puts them in just the 22nd percentile nationally and below the median for Washington state programs. The positive side? Earnings grow by 26% over four years, reaching $38,481, suggesting graduates find their footing with experience. Still, even after that growth, they're earning about $10,000 less annually than Whitworth or Antioch Seattle graduates.

The financial picture offers one clear advantage: graduates leave with just $16,323 in debt, about 40% less than the national median for these programs. That low debt burden—and a 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio—means repayment should be manageable even on those lower starting salaries. The 92% admission rate reflects UW-Bothell's mission as an accessible regional campus rather than a competitive filter.

For families, the calculation is straightforward: if your child needs a general liberal arts degree and wants to stay in Washington, they'll graduate with minimal debt but should expect to earn meaningfully less than peers at other state programs. The low debt makes this less risky than it might be elsewhere, but the earnings gap—particularly in those crucial early career years—creates a tougher financial launch.