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Electrical at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $77,516/yr (0% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)

ROI 20.8x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #204 of 262 Electrical programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$803K	$771K	$660K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.6x	20.8x	17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.2x	6.9x	5.9x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	64	63	59

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 (6.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,000

3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $77,516 track close to the $77,516 national median for Electrical programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 20.8x 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 — 56% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $24,000 in median debt against $77,516 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #204 out of 262 programs, Western Washington University's financial outcomes for Electrical trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Western Washington University

Western Washington University has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Computer hardware engineers $155,020/yr

Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr

View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Electrical 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

How does Western Washington University's Electrical program score?

A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Western Washington University trails the majority of Electrical programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

How vulnerable is Electrical to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Electrical careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% 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 →