Science, Technology and Society at University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Science, Technology and Society degrees occupy an unusual niche—interdisciplinary programs that examine how technology shapes society without providing the direct technical training that employers typically reward with higher starting salaries. The estimated $44,736 first-year earnings from peer programs nationally reflects this positioning: it's respectable for a liberal arts graduate but modest compared to traditional STEM fields that often start $15,000-20,000 higher.

The estimated $23,875 in debt produces a manageable 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio, which means your child would owe roughly half their first year's salary. That's better than many humanities programs, though the uncertainty here matters—without actual outcomes from UW-Bothell's specific program, you're relying on national medians that could mask significant variation. Some graduates from similar programs might land policy or tech consulting roles that push earnings higher; others might struggle to translate the interdisciplinary credential into clear career paths.

The real question is what your child plans to do with this degree. If they're using it as a foundation for graduate work in law, policy, or urban planning, the pathway makes sense. If they expect it to open immediate doors in Washington's tech sector, they should understand they'll likely need additional skills or credentials to compete with computer science and engineering graduates. Talk specifically about their post-graduation plans—this degree's value depends heavily on how strategically they use it.