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Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,007/yr (-17% vs median)

AI Risk High (42% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (449,300 openings/yr)

ROI 9.3x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #36 of 59 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$577K	$572K	$524K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.4x	9.3x	8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.6x	7.5x	6.9x
Probability of Field Employment	52%	49%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	42	44

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 (7.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,804

-22% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

11.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,153

93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $28,007 per year, Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates from Western Michigan University earn below the $33,816 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

At 9.3x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 42% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$28,007 income ratio translates to about 12 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #36 out of 59 programs, Western Michigan University's financial outcomes for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $28,007 to $54,153 over five years (93% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Western Michigan University

With 85% of applicants admitted, Western Michigan University prioritizes broad access, serving 12,704 students in Kalamazoo, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Michigan University →

Top Career Paths

Human resources managers $140,030/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Training and development managers $127,090/yr

View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Michigan University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Michigan University's Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology program score?

This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 42% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology earnings lower at Western Michigan University?

Lower starting pay at Western Michigan University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →