Accountingat Western Michigan University
Graduates earn $47,464/yr in their first year — about 12.0% below the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $673K; scenarios range from $591K to $703K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Western Michigan University
Graduates earn $47,464/yr, roughly in line with the $53,724 national median for Accounting. 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 programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Accounting'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 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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Western Michigan University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Accounting
How Western Michigan University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Western Michigan University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Michigan University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Accounting offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Accounting trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Accounting at Western Michigan University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Accounting at Western Michigan University?
This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Accounting programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Accounting 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.