U.S. median for this major: $57,208.
College Scorecard field of study; 30 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 39% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,552.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $30,359. College Scorecard.
Western Washington University Area Studies: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Area Studies nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Western Washington University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,915 | $57,213 | more than 20 years |
| $30–48k | $14,147 | $62,671 | more than 20 years |
| $48–75k | $17,539 | $77,698 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $24,301 | $107,653 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $27,984 | $123,969 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (42% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Area Studies graduates 4 years after graduating ($40,623) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $404 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Area Studies at Washington colleges
Every Washington college we cover that reports Area Studies graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Puget Sound | $57,407 | $27,000 | $38,394 | 68% |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $56,926 | $14,922 | $14,091 | 85% |
| 3 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | $56,926 | $14,922 | $12,319 | 65% |
| 4 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | $56,926 | $14,922 | $10,163 | 63% |
| 5 | Western Washington University | $40,623 | $15,655 | $21,193 | 65% |
7 more Washington colleges offer Area Studies but have too few graduates to report earnings.
What families pay at Western Washington University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Washington University
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 65% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,569
- Full cost breakdown · all 97 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Washington University
- English$46,571
- History$46,000
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$38,163
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages$65,380
- Philosophy—
- Linguistics$44,615
Western Washington University Area Studies questions
How much do Western Washington University Area Studies graduates earn?
Area Studies graduates of Western Washington University earn a median $40,623 four years after graduating and $33,103 one year after. The U.S. median for Area Studies graduates across 70 colleges is $57,208.
How much debt do Western Washington University Area Studies graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Area Studies graduates of Western Washington University is $15,655, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,552.
Is Western Washington University a good school for Area Studies in Washington?
On pay, Area Studies graduates of Western Washington University earn $40,623 four years out, $16,303 below the median for the same major across 5 Washington colleges ($56,926) and $16,585 below the U.S. median ($57,208). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Washington University rank for Area Studies in Washington?
Of 5 Washington colleges reporting Area Studies graduate earnings, Western Washington University ranks 5th. The highest is University of Puget Sound at $57,407.
Is Western Washington University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Western Washington University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Western Washington University Area Studies: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-washington-university/majors/area-studies (College Scorecard and BLS data).