Home › Western Washington University › Manufacturing Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $65,863/yr (-9% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Large (70,000 openings/yr)

ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #11 of 14 Manufacturing Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$685K	$667K	$599K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.4x	17.9x	16.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.1x	6.0x	5.4x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	66%	49%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	60	58

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 (6.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,323

3.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $65,863/yr, roughly in line with the $72,238 national median for Manufacturing Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Manufacturing Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Manufacturing Engineering's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $65,863 far exceeding the $21,323 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #11 of 14 Manufacturing Engineering programs, Western Washington University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Western Washington University

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

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Engineers, all other $117,750/yr

Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Manufacturing Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Washington University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Manufacturing Engineering at Western Washington University?

This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Manufacturing Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Manufacturing Engineering careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $599,424 in decade earnings vs $684,886 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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