Linguistics at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings
$24,232/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market
Large (83,300 openings/yr)
ROI
13.1x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Linguistics graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $485K | $486K | $455K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.1x | 13.1x | 12.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 43% | 38% | 28% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 28 | 28 | 24 |
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 (4.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,798
9.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,342
71% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
A 91% acceptance rate means Western Washington University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →Top Career Paths
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270/yr
Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$77,010/yr
Compare & Explore
Linguistics 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 Linguistics program score?
This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Linguistics. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Linguistics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Linguistics 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 →