Mathematics and Computer Science at Western Washington University

Western Washington's Mathematics and Computer Science program appears positioned in a strong field where employer demand typically supports solid starting salaries. Peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $90,000, which would make the estimated $24,000 debt load manageable—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 means less than three months of gross pay to cover total borrowing. For computer science graduates, this kind of ratio usually allows for comfortable loan repayment while building savings.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With only three schools in Washington offering this dual-degree combination and no reported outcomes data from any of them, we're extrapolating from national patterns. That $90,000 figure comes from just nine comparable programs nationwide—a thin dataset that may not capture regional variations in Washington's tech market. Seattle's tech hub drives strong demand for computer science graduates statewide, which could mean actual outcomes exceed these estimates, but without school-specific data, that's speculation.

The practical decision: if your child is genuinely interested in both mathematics and computer science, the estimated financials suggest this won't be a debt trap. But you're making this choice with less information than you'd have for most programs. Talk to the department about where recent graduates actually landed—career services should have placement data even if the DOE doesn't publish it.