Architecture at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

UW-Seattle's architecture program costs less than most alternatives while delivering solid early-career earnings, though the small graduating class (under 30) means individual experiences may vary significantly from these medians. Students here borrow about $6,600 less than the national average for architecture programs, graduating with roughly $20,400 in debt—a manageable load given first-year earnings above $50,000.

The earnings trajectory looks healthy, with graduates seeing 23% income growth by their fourth year out. While these numbers place UW in the 66th percentile nationally for architecture earnings, that comparison matters less than the debt picture: the program sits in the 90th percentile for debt, meaning 90% of architecture programs saddle students with more borrowing. Given that architecture often requires additional credentialing through graduate school, starting with lower undergraduate debt preserves financial flexibility.

The caveat here is meaningful—with such a small sample, a few high or low earners could skew these figures considerably. Still, the fundamentals look sound: reasonable debt, earnings that beat the national average for the field, and manageable debt-to-income ratio of 0.40. For Washington families, this represents one of only two bachelor's architecture options in-state, and the financial profile suggests it's positioned as the more affordable path into the profession.