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Western Michigan University

⌖ Kalamazoo, MI · 77 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$99,362 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

17.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−41%Modeled 10-year ROI
$59,173Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$99,362at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$241,0920
2
4
6
8
−$99,36210
Years after graduationBreak-even: 17.0 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$15,252
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$19,034
Sticker price
Average net price$15,273
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$29,237
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$15,273Average net price / year
$29,237Cost of attendance
$59,173Median earnings · year 5 after completion
57.6%Completion rate
84.6%Admission rate
12,568Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

79thEarnings percentile
49thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$43,987Year 1
$62,885Year 4
$59,173Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions · Master's Degree$123,8922Paper Science and Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$102,8253Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$96,0454Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$95,4695Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$94,1776Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Doctoral Degree$94,1357Industrial Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$92,3068Chemical Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$91,777

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in MI

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

Allendale, MI

Grand Valley State University

Annual net price
$16,317
Observed earnings · year 5
$56,856
Modeled 10-year ROI
-52%
Open college profile →Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University

Annual net price
$17,597
Observed earnings · year 5
$57,741
Modeled 10-year ROI
-49%
Open college profile →Ypsilanti, MI

Eastern Michigan University

Annual net price
$15,407
Observed earnings · year 5
$55,310
Modeled 10-year ROI
-57%
Open college profile →Sault Ste Marie, MI

Lake Superior State University

Annual net price
$12,822
Observed earnings · year 5
$57,223
Modeled 10-year ROI
-47%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsMaster's Degree$123,892Not available
Paper Science and EngineeringBachelor's Degree$102,825$27,379
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$96,045Not available
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$95,469$30,707
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringBachelor's Degree$94,177$28,021
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyDoctoral Degree$94,135Not available
Industrial EngineeringBachelor's Degree$92,306Not available
Chemical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$91,777$29,000
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$90,876$28,969
Air TransportationBachelor's Degree$89,564$27,000
Engineering-Related FieldsBachelor's Degree$88,746$27,000
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$87,477$31,000
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$84,622$31,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$83,449$28,850
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$82,740$29,875
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$82,190Not available
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$78,368$29,156
Human Resources Management and ServicesMaster's Degree$78,328Not available
Public AdministrationMaster's Degree$76,335Not available
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$76,241$27,000
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$75,143$27,000
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$74,566$31,000
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsMaster's Degree$73,089Not available
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$72,353$26,031
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyMaster's Degree$72,299Not available
Human Resources Management and ServicesBachelor's Degree$71,870$27,000
MarketingBachelor's Degree$71,371$25,750
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$68,966Not available
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$68,351$26,668
Special Education and TeachingMaster's Degree$67,367Not available
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$66,666$27,000
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyBachelor's Degree$64,679$27,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$64,565Not available
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationBachelor's Degree$64,127$27,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$62,562Not available
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsGraduate/Professional Certificate$61,943Not available
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsMaster's Degree$61,613Not available
Social WorkMaster's Degree$60,283Not available
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$59,249$27,000
Design and Applied ArtsBachelor's Degree$58,634$27,000
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$58,164Not available
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's Degree$58,023$27,000
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$57,012$27,000
Apparel and TextilesBachelor's Degree$56,487Not available
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesBachelor's Degree$56,449$26,990
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsMaster's Degree$56,135Not available
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$54,840$26,564
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessMaster's Degree$54,611Not available
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherBachelor's Degree$54,597$31,000
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesBachelor's Degree$54,265$27,000
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$54,002Not available
SociologyBachelor's Degree$51,835$25,585
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$51,446$26,000
Special Education and TeachingBachelor's Degree$50,665$31,000
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$50,655$27,000
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$50,134$26,000
Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree$49,921$27,000
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$49,850$27,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$49,340$29,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$49,286$29,539
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$48,065Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$47,898$31,000
HistoryBachelor's Degree$46,909$31,000
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing OperationsBachelor's Degree$46,543$26,000
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsBachelor's Degree$45,391$27,000
DanceBachelor's Degree$45,108$27,000
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$44,694$26,950
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$43,628$28,350
AnthropologyBachelor's Degree$41,490$31,000
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesBachelor's Degree$40,792$27,000
International/Globalization StudiesBachelor's Degree$40,663$27,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsBachelor's Degree$37,013$28,625
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$36,615$28,495
MusicBachelor's Degree$36,254$27,000
MusicMaster's Degree$33,453Not available
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesBachelor's DegreeNot available$26,000
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyBachelor's DegreeNot available$31,455

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.