Nursing at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
89 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
89
Optimistic
89
Base Case
86
Pessimistic
Earnings $80,808/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 25.5x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #77 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $951K $947K $812K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 25.6x 25.5x 21.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.5x 8.5x 7.3x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 89 89 86

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 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$74,720
-101% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,369
1.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$98,502
22% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Washington University's Nursing graduates start at $80,808/yr — above the $75,273 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 25.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Nursing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Nursing's typical career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,369 in median debt clears quickly against $80,808 in annual earnings.

Ranked #77 of 990 programs, Western Washington University's Nursing program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $80,808 to $98,502 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Western Washington University

A 91% acceptance rate means Western Washington University is accessible to most applicants, serving 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Nurse anesthetists $223,210/yr
Nurse practitioners $129,210/yr
Nurse midwives $128,790/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Nursing at Other Schools

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at Western Washington University?
This program scores 89/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Nursing nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Nursing careers?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $811,708 in decade earnings vs $950,680 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →