Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

UW's Liberal Arts program shows an unusual pattern: graduates start well below average but see strong earnings growth that outpaces typical trajectories. While the $30,437 starting salary lands in just the 22nd percentile nationally and below Washington's median, earnings climb 26% by year four—suggesting graduates land better positions once they've gained experience or completed additional training.

The debt picture is surprisingly favorable for a flagship university, at $16,323—far below both the national median ($27,000) and Washington's median ($22,881). This low debt level matters significantly given the modest starting salary, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54. However, the program ranks in the 40th percentile among Washington's 20 liberal arts programs, trailing schools like WSU ($40,061) and Seattle University ($35,398) by meaningful margins. The moderate sample size suggests these figures are reasonably reliable but worth confirming with the university.

For families banking on UW's prestigious name to translate into immediate post-graduation earnings, this data reveals a disconnect. The investment makes more sense if your student plans to pursue graduate school, targets career tracks where liberal arts degrees serve as foundational stepping stones, or values UW's broader opportunities over immediate earnings. The low debt provides breathing room, but other Washington options deliver stronger early-career outcomes.