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Sustainability Studies at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,600/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (45,900 openings/yr)

ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #8 of 22 Sustainability Studies programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$485K	$486K	$458K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.1x	13.1x	12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.4x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	44%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	41	41	37

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 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,086

5.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,600 at Western Washington University come in 12% above the national median of $37,053 for Sustainability Studies programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Sustainability Studies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Sustainability Studies's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $41,600 far exceeding the $19,086 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #8 of 22 Sustainability Studies programs, Western Washington University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Western Washington University

Western Washington University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, 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

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340/yr

Environmental science teachers, postsecondary $87,710/yr

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

Compare & Explore

Sustainability Studies 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 Sustainability Studies at Western Washington University?

A score of 41/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Sustainability Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Sustainability Studies careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $457,722 in decade earnings vs $484,930 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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