Social Sciences at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

UW-Seattle's Social Sciences degree starts rough but tells an ultimately optimistic story. That first-year salary of $30,584 looks concerning—18th percentile nationally means most comparable programs elsewhere launch graduates at higher earnings. But the trajectory matters here: by year four, earnings jump 79% to nearly $55,000, suggesting graduates secure meaningful career traction after that initial struggle period.

Within Washington state, this program actually performs at the median, ranking in the 60th percentile. The state context reveals something important: Washington's social sciences programs collectively underperform the national average, so comparing this program solely to national benchmarks misses that UW-Seattle holds its own regionally. The $19,307 in typical debt sits well below both state and national medians, giving graduates breathing room during those lean early years.

The real question is whether your family can weather that challenging first year or two post-graduation. With debt payments manageable relative to starting income (0.63 ratio), this is less dire than the national ranking suggests. If your student has realistic expectations about entry-level pay and a plan for building skills during those early years—when many social sciences graduates work in research assistant, nonprofit, or administrative roles—the strong earnings growth indicates the credential has value. Just don't expect immediate financial returns.