Microbiological Sciences and Immunology at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

UW's microbiology program starts graduates behind the curve—$34,669 is roughly $4,500 below both the national and Washington state medians for this degree. Among Washington's three programs offering this major, it ranks middle-of-the-pack at the 40th percentile, trailing Washington State University's graduates who earn $43,736 right out of the gate. That initial gap matters when you're paying rent in Seattle on an entry-level science salary.

The saving grace is what happens next. By year four, earnings jump to $54,238—a 56% increase that pushes graduates well above where most of their peers plateau. The debt burden of $15,917 is manageable, especially once that income growth kicks in. You're looking at a debt load less than half of first-year earnings, which is rare enough for STEM programs.

The gamble here is whether your student can weather those first couple of years making substantially less than expected for a UW science degree. If they're planning graduate school, that timeline might align perfectly with their earning trajectory. If they need immediate income to justify the investment, this program's delayed payoff could create financial strain. The debt won't sink them, but that slow start out of a flagship university should factor into your family's calculations.