Industrial Engineering at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

UW-Seattle's industrial engineering program delivers exactly what parents hope for: strong starting salaries with remarkably low debt. Graduates begin at $75,473—right at the state median—but the real story is the debt load. At just $18,027, these students borrow about $7,000 less than the national median for this major, placing the program in the 95th percentile nationally for low debt. That 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can comfortably manage their loans while establishing their careers, and the 18% earnings growth to $88,806 by year four suggests solid career trajectory.

The earnings numbers are solid if not spectacular—56th percentile nationally means this program sits comfortably in the middle of the pack. For a flagship public university with a 43% admission rate, that's exactly where it should be. The combination of manageable in-state tuition (reflected in that low debt) and respectable starting salaries creates a low-risk entry into a stable field. Industrial engineers work across manufacturing, logistics, and technology—all strong sectors in Washington's economy.

The main limitation? This is the only bachelor's-level industrial engineering program in Washington state, so there's no in-state comparison shopping. But given the debt-to-earnings profile, that's not necessarily a problem. Parents should feel confident their child can graduate, find work, and pay off loans without financial stress.