Applied Mathematics at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

The trajectory here tells an impressive story: while peer programs nationally suggest starting earnings around $61,000, UW-Seattle graduates report earning $107,000 by their fourth year out—a near-doubling that vastly outpaces typical career progression. With estimated first-year debt of $21,000, graduates appear to reach a strong financial position quickly, though that initial year figure itself is an estimate drawn from similar bachelor's programs at comparable institutions.

What makes this pattern particularly notable is the contrast with Washington state benchmarks. While Washington State University's Applied Math graduates report starting salaries of just $28,000, UW-Seattle's fourth-year figure is nearly four times higher. This gulf likely reflects Seattle's robust tech sector, where applied mathematics backgrounds translate directly into high-paying positions in data science, engineering, and quantitative analysis. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 based on estimated figures suggests manageable repayment even in that first year, but it's the documented mid-career earnings that really define the program's value.

Your child would be entering a program at a flagship research university in a city where mathematical skills command premium salaries. The caveat is that we're extrapolating from peer programs for that crucial first year—UW's specific outcomes might differ. But the concrete fourth-year data provides strong evidence that this degree opens doors to genuinely lucrative careers, not just eventual financial stability.