Rhetoric & Writing at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
24
Optimistic
24
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,116/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market
Large (48,200 openings/yr)
ROI
12.3x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Rhetoric & Writing graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $453K | $459K | $437K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.2x | 12.3x | 11.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.1x | 4.1x | 3.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 49% | 42% | 29% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 24 | 24 | 20 |
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 (4.1x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,604
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,281
41% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
Western Washington University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →Top Career Paths
Technical writers
$91,670/yr
Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78,490/yr
English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
$78,270/yr
Compare & Explore
Rhetoric & Writing 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 Rhetoric & Writing program score?
This program scores 24/100 — on the lower end for Rhetoric & Writing. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Rhetoric & Writing to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Rhetoric & Writing careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 62% 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 →