U.S. median for this major: $50,571.
College Scorecard field of study; 39 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 45% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $20,556.
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 Linguistics: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Washington colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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.
Linguistics 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 | 13.0 years |
| $30–48k | $14,147 | $62,671 | 14.3 years |
| $48–75k | $17,539 | $77,698 | 17.7 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 Linguistics graduates 4 years after graduating ($44,615) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $4,396 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.
Linguistics at Washington colleges
Every Washington college we cover that reports Linguistics 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 Washington-Seattle Campus | $55,540 | — | $14,091 | 85% |
| 2 | Western Washington University | $44,615 | $19,899 | $21,193 | 65% |
4 more Washington colleges offer Linguistics but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Linguistics graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Interpreters and Translators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +2.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
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
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages$65,380
- English$46,571
- History$46,000
- Liberal Arts / General Studies$38,163
- Philosophy—
- Area Studies$40,623
Western Washington University Linguistics questions
How much do Western Washington University Linguistics graduates earn?
Linguistics graduates of Western Washington University earn a median $44,615 four years after graduating and $24,232 one year after. The U.S. median for Linguistics graduates across 89 colleges is $50,571.
How much debt do Western Washington University Linguistics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Linguistics graduates of Western Washington University is $19,899, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $20,556.
Where does Western Washington University rank for Linguistics in Washington?
Of 2 Washington colleges reporting Linguistics graduate earnings, Western Washington University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Washington-Seattle Campus at $55,540.
What jobs do Linguistics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $102,160 in the Bellingham, WA area and $72,040 nationally. Others include interpreters and translators.
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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 Linguistics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-washington-university/majors/linguistics (College Scorecard and BLS data).