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American Sign Language at Western Oregon University

Monmouth, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,576/yr (-4% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (88,500 openings/yr)

ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 19 American Sign Language programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to American Sign Language graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$501K	$500K	$468K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.4x	11.3x	10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.1x	3.8x
Probability of Field Employment	44%	40%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	35	35	31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$44,100

Out-of-state: $122,940 (4.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,160

-66% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,500

8.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$46,831

48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Oregon University's American Sign Language program produces graduates earning $31,576/yr — within striking distance of the $32,891 national average for this field.

The 11.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,500 debt-to-$31,576 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #6 out of 19 programs, Western Oregon University's American Sign Language offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $31,576 to $46,831 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Western Oregon University

A 99% acceptance rate means Western Oregon University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 3,211 students in Monmouth, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Oregon University →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr

Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary $77,010/yr

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580/yr

View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

American Sign Language at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Oregon 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

How does Western Oregon University's American Sign Language program score?

This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for American Sign Language. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is American Sign Language to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' American Sign Language careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

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