Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington · Public · 93.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Western Washington University, a public regional comprehensive university in Bellingham, scores 72 out of 100 - a Fair Value tier rating. WWU's profile is unusually balanced: completion is 64.6% (good), repayment is 79.4% (strong), debt-to-earnings is a moderate 0.495, and the payback period is 8.2 years. Average earnings six years after entry are $37,400, climbing meaningfully to a median $62,569 at year ten. Median debt is $18,500, notably low for a four-year public. In-state tuition is $9,582; net price $21,193 (higher than tuition due to Bellingham room/board); four-year total $84,772. The 0.325 earnings premium is solid. WWU is a defensible ROI play for in-state Pacific Northwest students.
Western Washington University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,582/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,707/yr |
| Average net price | $21,193/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $84,772 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,569 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $196 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 13,544 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,582/year ($28,707/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $21,193/year, or roughly $84,772 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,915/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,984/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,500, which works out to about $196 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,400) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,915 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,147 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,539 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,301 |
| $110,001+ | $27,984 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,915 net annually - meaningful institutional + Pell + Washington College Grant aid. Four-year exposure of about $52,000 against $37,400 average earnings is workable. The strong long-run earnings trajectory ($62,569 at year 10) helps the math. WWU is a credible affordability play for low-income Washington students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $17,539, and $75,001-$110,000 pays $24,301. Four-year cost runs $70,000-$97,000 across mid brackets. Middle-income families get a reasonable in-state public price; WWU's strong long-run earnings make this a good mid-income ROI play.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $27,984 net per year - four-year cost approaches $112,000. Still very competitive for a state regional comprehensive.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Western Washington University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $53,224 | C |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $53,781 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $110,138 | B+ |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $43,919 | D |
| Marketing | $69,323 | B |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $38,460 | C |
| Sociology | $54,263 | C |
| Special Education and Teaching | $64,780 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,886 | B+ |
| Human Services, General | $53,788 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is WWU's flagship ROI program: 21 graduates with $80,808 first-year earnings rising to $96,695 by year four, just $20,146 in median debt, and an exceptional 0.249 debt-to-earnings ratio earning an A grade. Strong placement into Pacific Northwest hospital systems (PeaceHealth, Skagit Regional) drives outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS produces 128 graduates - a substantial cohort - with $68,219 first-year earnings rising to $110,138 by year four, $19,333 median debt, and a 0.283 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a B+ grade. Strong placement into Seattle and Vancouver, BC tech employers. The four-year earnings ramp is dramatic.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business admin produces 99 graduates with $53,402 first-year earnings, $71,886 by year four, $17,375 median debt, and a 0.325 ratio for a B+ grade. The combination of strong earnings and very low debt makes this one of WWU's quietly strong ROI tracks. Pacific Northwest corporate placement (Boeing, Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks supply chain) drives outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting produces 54 graduates with $60,048 first-year earnings, $82,246 by year four, $20,567 median debt, and a 0.343 ratio for a B+ grade. CPA-track placement into Pacific Northwest accounting firms (Moss Adams, Big 4 Seattle offices) drives outcomes. A consistent ROI win for business-track students.
Music
Music produces 29 graduates with $15,834 first-year earnings, $38,858 by year four, $20,055 median debt, and a 1.267 debt-to-earnings ratio earning an F grade. The first-year earnings figure is the lowest at WWU. Music programs nationwide post weak bachelor's-only ROI; WWU is no exception. Students should plan around graduate continuation, teaching certification, or substantial parallel income.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Western Washington University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 93.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-710 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-31 |
| Enrollment | 13,544 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,802 |
Admission rate is 93.25% - nominally accessible. SAT mid-50% bands sit at 560-680 Math and 590-710 Reading; ACT composite spans 24-31. These bands are above national medians and reflect a meaningful academic-prep distribution among entering students, which helps drive the 65% completion rate. WWU's high admit rate combined with strong test bands suggests yield management more than open access - the institution attracts capable applicants but admits most of them.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Washington University (this school) | 72 | $21,193 | $62,569 |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | 71 | $8,615 | $57,162 |
| Oakland University | 71 | $9,120 | $58,612 |
| Portland State University | 69 | $9,552 | $57,906 |
| Central Washington University | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| Eastern Washington University | 66 | $13,886 | $57,897 |
Who Thrives Here
WWU fits Pacific Northwest students who want a public comprehensive university experience with strong programs in business, engineering, CS, education, and environmental/sustainability fields. Pell rate is 20.89% - middle-class skew. Total enrollment is 13,544 - substantial. Bellingham's coastal-mountain setting and the institution's strong sustainability and natural-resources programs draw students with environmental interests. The student profile that captures the strongest ROI: someone who completes in four to six years and lands in a strong program (CS, engineering, business, accounting, nursing, education).
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Western Washington University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $21,193 a year after aid ($84,772 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,569 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $18,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Western Washington University: Common Questions
Is Western Washington University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Western Washington University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 72/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,193 a year after aid ($84,772 over four years) against $62,569 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Western Washington University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,193 a year, or roughly $84,772 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Western Washington University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,569 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,769 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Western Washington University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.2 years for Western Washington University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Western Washington University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,500, against average earnings of $37,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Western Washington University?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.