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Finance and Financial Management Services at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $51,984/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (55% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (622,100 openings/yr)

ROI 18.5x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #108 of 431 Finance and Financial Management Services programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Finance and Financial Management Services graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$715K	$688K	$610K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.3x	18.5x	16.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.4x	6.2x	5.5x
Probability of Field Employment	69%	61%	44%
DegreeOutlook Score	80	79	76

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 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,084

4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$75,026

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $51,984/yr, roughly in line with the $55,340 national median for Finance and Financial Management Services. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Finance and Financial Management Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Finance and Financial Management Services's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $51,984 far exceeding the $19,084 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #108 of 431 nationally, this is a top-5% Finance and Financial Management Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $51,984 to $75,026 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Western Washington University

Western Washington University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr

Financial managers $161,700/yr

Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr

View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Finance and Financial Management Services 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Finance and Financial Management Services at Western Washington University?

This program scores 79/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Finance and Financial Management Services nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Finance and Financial Management Services careers?

With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $610,102 in decade earnings vs $715,118 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Western Washington University's Finance and Financial Management Services program stand out?

Ranked #108 of 431 programs nationally, Western Washington University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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