History at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$25,355/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (188,200 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 History graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $511K | $509K | $476K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.7x | 13.7x | 12.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 45% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 37 | 36 | 36 |
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
$17,100
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,193
78% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
Western Washington University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
History teachers, postsecondary
$81,500/yr
Compare & Explore
History at Other Schools
Other Majors at Western Washington 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 Washington University's History program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for History. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is History to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' History 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.
Why are History earnings lower at Western Washington University?
Lower starting pay at Western Washington University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →