Subject-Area Teaching at Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
70
Base Case
74
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,795/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk
High (43% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI
17.7x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Subject-Area Teaching graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $676K | $658K | $601K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.2x | 17.7x | 16.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.1x | 5.9x | 5.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 78% | 70% | 55% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 71 | 70 | 74 |
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 (5.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,700
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,749
54% growth from Year 1
About Western Washington University
A 91% acceptance rate means Western Washington University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →Top Career Paths
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Compare & Explore
Subject-Area Teaching at Other Schools
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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 Subject-Area Teaching at Western Washington University?
This program scores 70/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Subject-Area Teaching nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Subject-Area Teaching careers?
With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $600,970 in decade earnings vs $675,532 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →