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Economics at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,401/yr (-16% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)

ROI 18.9x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #110 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$726K	$702K	$609K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.5x	18.9x	16.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.5x	6.3x	5.5x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	72	71	69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,144

Out-of-state: $111,412 (6.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,500

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$74,441

64% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $45,401/yr fall 16% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 18.9x 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 — 56% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $18,500 in median debt against $45,401 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #110 out of 351 programs, Western Washington University's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $45,401 to $74,441 over five years (64% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Western Washington University

Western Washington University has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 13,574 in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr

Economists $115,440/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Washington University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Washington University's Economics program score?

A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Western Washington University's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Economics earnings lower at Western Washington University?

Lower starting pay at Western Washington University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →