Psychology at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Psychology, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
46
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,306/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk
High (49% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (125,000 openings/yr)
ROI
15.1x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Psychology graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $567K | $561K | $512K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.3x | 15.1x | 13.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.1x | 5.0x | 4.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 51% | 47% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 46 | 46 | 45 |
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 (5.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,654
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,357
71% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
Western Washington University has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, 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
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Psychologists, all other
$117,580/yr
Industrial-organizational psychologists
$109,840/yr
Compare & Explore
Psychology at Other Schools
Other Majors at Western Washington University
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Psychology at Western Washington University?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Psychology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Psychology careers?
With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $512,434 in decade earnings vs $567,157 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →