Psychology at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
46
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,306/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #71 of 926 Psychology, General programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $567K $561K $512K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.3x 15.1x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 5.0x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 47% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 46 45

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 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$74,720
-101% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,654
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,357
71% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,306 track close to the $31,705 national median for Psychology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Psychology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Psychology's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,654 represents roughly 7 months of the $32,306 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #71 of 926 programs, Western Washington University's Psychology program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $55,357 show a 71% jump from the $32,306 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Western Washington University

Western Washington University has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 13,574 in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr
Industrial-organizational psychologists $109,840/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Washington University

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 Psychology at Western Washington University?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $512,434 in decade earnings vs $567,157 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →