Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $19,512/yr fall 23% below the $25,392 national median for Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication Disorders Sciences and Services programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Communication Disorders Sciences and Services's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $14,334 represents roughly 9 months of the $19,512 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #30 of 103 Communication Disorders Sciences and Services programs, Western Washington University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $61,869 show a 217% jump from the $19,512 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.