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Business · Marketing Rank #91 of 502

Marketingat Western Washington University

Graduates earn $43,375/yr in their first year — about 5.0% below the national Marketing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $629K; scenarios range from $559K to $648K depending on AI disruption.

Bellingham, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
66
Optimistic
59
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,375
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$629K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
57% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Western Washington University

At $43,375/yr, Marketing graduates from Western Washington University land near the $45,450 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Marketing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Marketing's typical career paths, with 54% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $17,166 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #91 of 502 nationally, this is a top-5% Marketing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $70,846 show a 63% jump from the $43,375 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$559K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple15.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$629K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple16.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$648K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple17.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Western Washington University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Marketing graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Marketing managers
+6.6% 10-yr growth · 34,300 openings/yr
$161,030/yr
High
2
Sales managers
+4.7% 10-yr growth · 49,000 openings/yr
$138,060/yr
Moderate
3
Advertising and promotions managers
-2.2% 10-yr growth · 2,100 openings/yr
$126,960/yr
Moderate
4
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
5
Web and digital interface designers
+7.0% 10-yr growth · 9,100 openings/yr
$98,090/yr
High
6
Business teachers, postsecondary
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 8,100 openings/yr
$97,270/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Marketing

How Western Washington University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
3.7x
ROI
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Bucknell University
PA · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$71K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
Washington University in St Louis
MO · Private nonprofit
51
DW Score
$71K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
Villanova University
PA · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$70K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
Also at Western Washington University

Other top programs at Western Washington University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Washington University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Marketing offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Marketing trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Marketing at Western Washington University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Marketing at Western Washington University?

A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Marketing field.

Will AI replace Marketing careers?

With 54% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $559,410 in decade earnings vs $648,126 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Western Washington University's Marketing program stand out?

Ranked #91 of 502 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.