Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA wwu.edu 13,574 students

Western Washington University's main campus sits on 215 acres in Bellingham, Washington, giving students access to both urban amenities and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The university is known for its strong sense of community, fostered by outdoor recreation and environmental awareness. Its location near the Canadian border and the Salish Sea provides unique opportunities for research and exploration in marine and border studies.

Programs

Analyzed in dataset

Earnings

$40,117

Average graduate, 1 yr after

Outlook

50/100

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

Tuition

$9,286

In-state sticker price

Out-of-state: $27,853/yr

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Western Washington University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 21% of students receive Pell Grants; 28% take federal loans.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025

Income Bracket	Avg Net Price	4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K	$11,416	$45,664
$30K – $48K	$12,741	$50,964
$48K – $75K	$16,177	$64,708
$75K – $110K	$21,581	$86,324
$110K+	$25,698	$102,792
Sticker price (no aid)	$9,286	$37,144

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at Western Washington University

49 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program	DW Score	1-yr Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Nursing Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare across schools →	89	$80,808/yr	High	25.5x
Information Sciences Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools →	88	$68,219/yr	Very High	33.8x
Accounting Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools →	81	$60,048/yr	Very High	19.7x
Finance Finance and Financial Management Services Compare across schools →	79	$51,984/yr	Very High	19.2x
Business Administration Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools →	78	$53,402/yr	High	20.7x
Teacher Education Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Compare across schools →	77	$53,133/yr	High	17.5x
IT Management Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management Compare across schools →	73	$72,675/yr	Very High	18.6x
Economics Compare across schools →	71	$45,401/yr	Very High	19.0x
Management Information Systems Management Information Systems and Services Compare across schools →	70	$61,668/yr	Very High	22.6x
Chemistry Compare across schools →	70	$48,527/yr	High	19.9x
Subject-Area Teaching Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Compare across schools →	70	$42,795/yr	High	16.7x
Marketing Compare across schools →	65	$43,375/yr	Very High	18.1x
Electrical Engineering Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Compare across schools →	63	$77,516/yr	Very High	19.9x
Special Education and Teaching Compare across schools →	63	$52,912/yr	High	17.0x
International Business Compare across schools →	63	$38,412/yr	Very High	16.5x
Manufacturing Engineering Compare across schools →	60	$65,863/yr	High	16.7x
Mental Health Services Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Compare across schools →	58	$46,770/yr	Moderate	11.6x
Polymer Engineering Polymer/Plastics Engineering Compare across schools →	55	$60,375/yr	High	15.3x
Cell Biology Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences Compare across schools →	49	$39,225/yr	High	14.8x
Biochemistry Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Compare across schools →	48	$42,025/yr	High	13.9x
Mathematics Compare across schools →	47	$22,953/yr	Very High	19.9x
Human Services Human Services, General Compare across schools →	46	$39,487/yr	Moderate	12.3x
Biology Biology, General Compare across schools →	46	$33,871/yr	High	14.0x
Psychology Psychology, General Compare across schools →	46	$32,306/yr	High	13.9x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →	45	$34,857/yr	High	14.1x
Design Design and Applied Arts Compare across schools →	45	$31,078/yr	High	16.4x
Political Science Political Science and Government Compare across schools →	44	$27,217/yr	Very High	14.1x
Geosciences Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Compare across schools →	42	$36,802/yr	High	14.3x
Sustainability Studies Compare across schools →	41	$41,600/yr	High	10.2x
Sociology Compare across schools →	41	$33,039/yr	High	12.2x
Geography and Cartography Compare across schools →	41	$29,931/yr	High	13.6x
Journalism Compare across schools →	40	$34,119/yr	Very High	13.3x
Romance Languages Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Compare across schools →	40	$26,557/yr	Very High	15.0x
Neuroscience Neurobiology and Neurosciences Compare across schools →	38	$39,011/yr	High	9.5x
Natural Resources & Conservation Research Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools →	38	$30,899/yr	High	13.7x
English English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools →	37	$32,334/yr	Very High	12.0x
Health & Physical Education Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools →	37	$29,268/yr	Moderate	10.9x
Anthropology Compare across schools →	37	$27,851/yr	High	11.6x
Communication Disorders Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Compare across schools →	37	$19,512/yr	High	15.7x
History Compare across schools →	36	$25,355/yr	High	11.2x
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology Compare across schools →	33	$33,323/yr	High	8.0x
Fine Arts Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools →	31	$23,102/yr	Moderate	10.3x
Linguistics Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Compare across schools →	28	$24,232/yr	Very High	10.1x
Area Studies Compare across schools →	27	$33,103/yr	Very High	10.0x
Archeology Compare across schools →	27	$24,061/yr	High	5.5x
Parks & Recreation Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies Compare across schools →	25	$27,558/yr	Very High	10.4x
Music Compare across schools →	25	$15,834/yr	High	9.6x
Rhetoric & Writing Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Compare across schools →	24	$27,116/yr	Very High	9.3x
Theater & Drama Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools →	24	$24,258/yr	Moderate	7.7x