Liberal Arts & Humanities at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
34 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
35
Optimistic
34
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,061/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Low (0% exposed)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)
ROI 9.3x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #203 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $485K $485K $461K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.3x 9.3x 8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.2x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 45% 45% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 35 34 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,988
Out-of-state: $116,292 (4.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,604
-11% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,435
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,521
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,061/yr, edging above the $37,172 national average for Liberal Arts & Humanities — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.3x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic ten-year scenarios is just 5% — this field's hands-on core resists automation.

Median debt of $20,435 represents roughly 6 months of the $40,061 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #203 of 424 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, Washington State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $46,521 are relatively flat compared to the $40,061 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Washington State University

Washington State University has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 21,583 students in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Liberal Arts & Humanities at Washington State University?
A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Liberal Arts & Humanities. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →