Accounting and Related Services at Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,464/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (62% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (451,900 openings/yr)
ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (8.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #375 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Accounting and Related Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $703K $673K $591K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.5x 11.0x 9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.2x 8.8x 7.7x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 65% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,192
Out-of-state: $76,392 (8.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$74,804
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,283
48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $47,464/yr, roughly in line with the $53,724 national median for Accounting and Related Services. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Accounting and Related Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Accounting and Related Services's typical career paths, with 62% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 16% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $47,464 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #375 of 714 Accounting and Related Services programs, Western Michigan University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $47,464 to $70,283 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 12,704 students in Kalamazoo, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Michigan University →

Top Career Paths

Financial managers $161,700/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
Financial and investment analysts $101,350/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Accounting and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Michigan University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting and Related Services at Western Michigan University?
This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting and Related Services programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Accounting and Related Services careers?
With 62% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $591,232 in decade earnings vs $702,554 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →