Public Institution
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University's main campus spans over 1,200 acres in Kalamazoo, offering a mix of traditional collegiate architecture and modern facilities. The student body is diverse, with a strong emphasis on research and practical application across its many programs. WMU is known for its Aviation program, one of the largest and most respected in the nation, and its athletic teams compete as the Broncos in the Mid-American Conference.
Programs
49
Analyzed in dataset
Earnings
$43,700
Average graduate, 1 yr after
Outlook
49/100
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
Tuition
$15,298
In-state sticker price
Out-of-state: $19,098/yr
Financial Aid
The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Western Michigan University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 25% of students receive Pell Grants; 48% take federal loans.
Net Price by Family Income
Academic Year 2025| Income Bracket | Avg Net Price | 4-Year Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $30K | $9,557 | $38,228 |
| $30K – $48K | $10,010 | $40,040 |
| $48K – $75K | $18,710 | $74,840 |
| $75K – $110K | $23,468 | $93,872 |
| $110K+ | $25,313 | $101,252 |
| Sticker price (no aid) | $15,298 | $61,192 |
Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.
Programs at Western Michigan University
49 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Degree Program | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nursing
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare across schools → |
81
|
$75,149/yr | High | 11.9x |
| Computer Science Compare across schools → |
80
|
$60,979/yr | Very High | 14.3x |
|
Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools → |
74
|
$55,770/yr | Very High | 11.1x |
|
Electrical Engineering
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Compare across schools → |
72
|
$76,145/yr | Very High | 14.9x |
|
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering Compare across schools → |
72
|
$69,514/yr | High | 15.5x |
|
Business Administration
Business Administration, Management and Operations Compare across schools → |
72
|
$55,660/yr | High | 11.1x |
|
Finance
Finance and Financial Management Services Compare across schools → |
72
|
$50,787/yr | Very High | 10.6x |
| Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools → |
70
|
$68,260/yr | Very High | 14.0x |
|
Accounting
Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools → |
69
|
$47,464/yr | Very High | 10.5x |
| Civil Engineering Compare across schools → |
68
|
$69,706/yr | High | 12.2x |
| Engineering-Related Fields Compare across schools → |
68
|
$67,992/yr | High | 13.3x |
| Industrial Engineering Compare across schools → |
67
|
$74,670/yr | High | 12.4x |
| Chemical Engineering Compare across schools → |
66
|
$68,632/yr | High | 12.6x |
|
Industrial Production Technology
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians Compare across schools → |
66
|
$63,665/yr | Moderate | 13.9x |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies Compare across schools → |
65
|
$47,286/yr | Low | 11.6x |
| Marketing Compare across schools → |
64
|
$53,081/yr | Very High | 10.5x |
| Paper Science and Engineering Compare across schools → |
58
|
$86,401/yr | High | 13.1x |
|
Drafting & Design Technology
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians Compare across schools → |
57
|
$60,153/yr | High | 12.2x |
|
Human Resources
Human Resources Management and Services Compare across schools → |
57
|
$48,115/yr | High | 8.6x |
|
Subject-Area Teaching
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Compare across schools → |
55
|
$42,468/yr | High | 7.2x |
|
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools → |
55
|
$39,614/yr | Moderate | 8.5x |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services Compare across schools → |
52
|
$35,024/yr | High | 8.4x |
|
Teacher Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Compare across schools → |
51
|
$41,296/yr | High | 6.4x |
|
Design
Design and Applied Arts Compare across schools → |
50
|
$39,077/yr | High | 10.0x |
|
Public Relations & Advertising
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Compare across schools → |
48
|
$37,718/yr | High | 8.5x |
|
Political Science
Political Science and Government Compare across schools → |
47
|
$38,744/yr | Very High | 7.8x |
| Special Education and Teaching Compare across schools → |
46
|
$47,868/yr | High | 7.2x |
| Air Transportation Compare across schools → |
46
|
$34,872/yr | Moderate | 11.6x |
|
Biology
Biology, General Compare across schools → |
44
|
$35,955/yr | High | 8.8x |
| Sociology Compare across schools → |
43
|
$35,399/yr | High | 8.5x |
| Social Work Compare across schools → |
42
|
$37,205/yr | Moderate | 7.8x |
|
Clinical Psychology
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Compare across schools → |
42
|
$28,007/yr | High | 7.8x |
|
Human Development & Family Studies
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Compare across schools → |
41
|
$35,209/yr | High | 6.0x |
|
Specialized Sales & Marketing
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations Compare across schools → |
39
|
$28,765/yr | High | 3.7x |
|
Health & Physical Education
Health and Physical Education/Fitness Compare across schools → |
37
|
$26,676/yr | Moderate | 8.4x |
|
Romance Languages
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Compare across schools → |
33
|
$32,630/yr | Very High | 7.1x |
|
Psychology
Psychology, General Compare across schools → |
33
|
$28,890/yr | High | 7.2x |
| History Compare across schools → |
32
|
$27,087/yr | High | 3.4x |
| Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools → |
30
|
$31,169/yr | High | 6.5x |
|
International Studies
International/Global Studies Compare across schools → |
29
|
$32,147/yr | Moderate | 7.9x |
| Anthropology Compare across schools → |
26
|
$22,670/yr | High | 2.7x |
| Music Compare across schools → |
25
|
$24,775/yr | High | 4.8x |
|
Fine Arts
Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools → |
25
|
$21,773/yr | Moderate | 2.6x |
|
Film & Photography
Film/Video and Photographic Arts Compare across schools → |
22
|
$26,502/yr | High | 5.9x |
|
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology Compare across schools → |
22
|
$23,846/yr | High | 2.9x |
|
Natural Resources & Conservation Research
Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools → |
19
|
$21,919/yr | High | 2.6x |
|
Theater & Drama
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools → |
19
|
$21,585/yr | Moderate | 3.4x |
|
Rhetoric & Writing
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Compare across schools → |
18
|
$21,468/yr | Very High | 5.2x |
| Dance Compare across schools → |
13
|
$21,540/yr | Low | 3.1x |
More Colleges in Michigan
Top-scored 4-year colleges and universities elsewhere in Michigan, ranked by average DegreeOutlook Score across their programs.
Kettering University
Flint, MI
6 programs
62/100
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI
17 programs
61/100
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, MI
13 programs
59/100
Baker College
Owosso, MI
17 programs
59/100
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
23 programs
59/100
Cleary University
Howell, MI
3 programs
59/100
Walsh College
Troy, MI
5 programs
58/100
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI
5 programs
57/100