Physics at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

UW Seattle's physics graduates start considerably behind the national median at $41,474, landing in just the 36th percentile nationwide. However, within Washington state, this places them right at the median—meaning half the state's physics programs do worse. The real story emerges over time: by year four, earnings jump 64% to $68,071, transforming what looks like an underwhelming start into solid mid-career positioning.

The debt picture offers genuine relief. At $17,113, graduates owe about $6,200 less than the typical physics major nationally, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 that most parents would consider manageable. A UW physics graduate could reasonably pay off their loans within a few years even on that modest starting salary, and the trajectory suggests accelerating financial stability after that.

The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these numbers could shift year to year, but the pattern is clear: this program trades a slower start for strong growth potential and minimal debt burden. For families weighing this option, the question becomes whether your student can weather those first couple of years on a $41,000 salary—because if they can, the economics improve rapidly from there.