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Apparel and Textiles at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,081/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (133,800 openings/yr)

ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #24 of 53 Apparel and Textiles programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Apparel and Textiles graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$561K	$553K	$510K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.8x	10.6x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.8x	4.8x	4.4x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	48%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,988

Out-of-state: $116,292 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,604

-11% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,364

43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,081 at Washington State University come in 11% above the national median of $35,960 for Apparel and Textiles programs.

The 10.6x 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 — 47% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $40,081 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #24 out of 53 programs, Washington State University's Apparel and Textiles offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,081 to $57,364 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Washington State University

Washington State University accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 21,583 students in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr

Materials scientists $104,160/yr

Fashion designers $80,690/yr

View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Apparel and Textiles at Other Schools

Other Majors at Washington State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Washington State University's Apparel and Textiles program score?

This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Apparel and Textiles graduates.

How vulnerable is Apparel and Textiles to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Apparel and Textiles careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% 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 →