Sociology at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,039/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk
High (42% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (114,800 openings/yr)
ROI
13.8x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Sociology graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $513K | $511K | $477K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.8x | 13.8x | 12.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 48% | 44% | 34% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 42 | 41 | 40 |
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 (4.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,207
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,943
48% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
A 91% acceptance rate means Western Washington University is accessible to most applicants, 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
Sociologists
$101,690/yr
Sociology teachers, postsecondary
$82,540/yr
Compare & Explore
Sociology 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 Sociology program score?
This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for Sociology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Sociology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Sociology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% 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 →