English at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · English Language and Literature, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
37
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,334/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (61% exposed)
Job Market
Large (73,200 openings/yr)
ROI
13.7x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to English graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $510K | $508K | $471K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.7x | 13.7x | 12.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 41% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 37 | 37 | 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)
$37,144
Out-of-state: $111,412 (4.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,585
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,283
49% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
With 91% of applicants admitted, Western Washington University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →Top Career Paths
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270/yr
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
$64,580/yr
Proofreaders and copy markers
$49,210/yr
Compare & Explore
English 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 English at Western Washington University?
A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for English. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace English careers?
With 61% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $471,039 in decade earnings vs $509,971 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Western Washington University's English program stand out?
Ranked #85 of 493 programs nationally, Western Washington University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →