Physics at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
58
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,474/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Large (77,700 openings/yr)
ROI 16.2x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #28 of 75 Physics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Physics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $862K $817K $710K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.1x 16.2x 14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 4.9x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 62% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 58 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,572
Out-of-state: $167,988 (4.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,940
-7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,415
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$82,775
100% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $41,474/yr, roughly in line with the $46,482 national median for Physics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $41,474 far exceeding the $15,415 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #28 out of 75 programs, University of Washington-Seattle Campus's Physics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $41,474 to $82,775 over five years (100% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Washington-Seattle Campus

A 43% admission rate makes University of Washington-Seattle Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 31,588 students enrolled in Seattle, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Washington-Seattle Campus →

Top Career Paths

Physicists $166,290/yr
Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Physics teachers, postsecondary $97,360/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Physics at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Washington-Seattle Campus's Physics program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Physics graduates.
How vulnerable is Physics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Physics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →