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Human Services, General at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,487/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (26% exposed)

Job Market Large (82,300 openings/yr)

ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #9 of 84 Human Services, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Human Services, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$508K	$507K	$486K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.7x	13.7x	13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.6x	4.4x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	68%	57%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	46	54

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)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,357

25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $39,487 per year, Human Services, General graduates from Western Washington University earn slightly above the $37,292 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 13.7x 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 — 26% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #9 out of 84 programs, Western Washington University's Human Services, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $39,487 to $49,357 shows 25% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Western Washington University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Western Washington University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 13,574 in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Social and community service managers $78,240/yr

Community and social service specialists, all other $54,940/yr

Social and human service assistants $45,120/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Human Services, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Washington University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Washington University's Human Services, General program score?

This program scores 46/100 — on the lower end for Human Services, General. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Why does Western Washington University rank so high for Human Services, General?

The #9 ranking out of 84 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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