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History at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $25,355/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (188,200 openings/yr)

ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #295 of 389 History programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$511K	$509K	$476K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.7x	13.7x	12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.6x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	36	36

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 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,100

8.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,193

78% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,355 place Western Washington University below the $32,281 national median for History — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 13.7x 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 — 44% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,100 debt-to-$25,355 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #295 out of 389 programs, Western Washington University's financial outcomes for History trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $25,355 to $45,193 over five years (78% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary 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

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

History teachers, postsecondary $81,500/yr

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

Compare & Explore

History at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Washington 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 Western Washington University's History program score?

This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for History. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is History to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' History careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are History 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 →