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Marketing at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,375/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (54% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (204,300 openings/yr)

ROI 16.9x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #91 of 502 Marketing programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$648K	$629K	$559K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.4x	16.9x	15.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.8x	5.6x	5.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	59

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 (5.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,166

4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$70,846

63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $43,375/yr, Marketing graduates from Western Washington University land near the $45,450 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Marketing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Marketing's typical career paths, with 54% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $17,166 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #91 of 502 nationally, this is a top-5% Marketing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $70,846 show a 63% jump from the $43,375 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Western Washington University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Western Washington University prioritizes broad access, serving 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr

Sales managers $138,060/yr

Advertising and promotions managers $126,960/yr

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

Compare & Explore

Marketing 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Marketing at Western Washington University?

A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Marketing field.

Will AI replace Marketing careers?

With 54% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $559,410 in decade earnings vs $648,126 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Western Washington University's Marketing program stand out?

Ranked #91 of 502 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 →