Is Boston University or the University of Washington better for getting a tech job in Seattle?

The central tradeoff is local access versus geographic flexibility: the University of Washington puts you inside Seattle’s tech ecosystem throughout college, while Boston University offers strong preparation and a broader East Coast network but requires more intentional effort to build Seattle connections. UW students can attend Seattle-area recruiting events, pursue in-quarter internships, and meet alumni working at companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and local startups without needing to relocate for the summer. BU students benefit from Boston’s substantial tech, biotech, and startup scene, but most of their naturally recurring employer contact will be in the Northeast rather than Seattle.

For Seattle specifically, UW’s location matters beyond its name recognition. It makes coffee chats, company events, part-time roles, research opportunities, and repeat internships more practical, and its alumni base is especially visible across the region. For technical majors, UW’s computer science and engineering programs are also well known to local employers. That does not mean a BU student cannot land a Seattle role: internships, referrals, strong projects, and applying nationally can absolutely bridge the distance, especially at larger companies with national recruiting.

Between these two schools, UW is the more advantageous choice for a student whose primary post-college target is a Seattle tech job. BU becomes the more compelling option only if you substantially prefer its academic program, campus experience, or Boston-based opportunities and are willing to deliberately build Seattle experience through summer internships, alumni outreach, and early applications.