Political Science at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,217/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
15.7x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $596K | $584K | $532K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.1x | 15.7x | 14.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.4x | 5.2x | 4.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 45 | 44 | 43 |
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 (5.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,675
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,069
106% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
Western Washington University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, 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
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
Political Science 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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Western Washington University?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Political Science careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $531,746 in decade earnings vs $596,484 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science from Western Washington University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →