Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

UW-Seattle's geosciences program starts graduates at a surprisingly low point—$29,724 puts them in just the 5th percentile nationally and below Washington's state median. That first-year figure trails Western Washington by $7,000 and even falls short of the typical starting point for this major in the state. The $20,500 in debt is manageable, but when nearly 70% of your first year's earnings goes toward paying it off, those early months feel financially precarious.

Here's what changes the equation: by year four, earnings jump 80% to $53,588, vaulting well past both state and national benchmarks. This trajectory suggests many graduates initially take field work, internships, or positions that don't require a degree but eventually transition into professional roles where their UW credential carries weight. The pattern is common in earth sciences, where careers in environmental consulting, resource management, or graduate school preparation often require patience before the payoff materializes.

The value here depends entirely on your child's timeline and tolerance for a slow start. If they can weather lean early years—perhaps with parental support or by living at home—this degree gets them to a solid outcome. But students who need immediate earnings to service debt independently should recognize that UW-Seattle's geosciences program back-loads its returns more than most alternatives in the state.