Computer and Information Sciences, General at Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $55,770/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (69% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (338,800 openings/yr)
ROI 11.5x earnings multiple (9.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #254 of 443 Computer and Information Sciences, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $724K $705K $587K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.8x 11.5x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.5x 9.2x 7.7x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 74% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 68

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 (9.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$74,804
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,646
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$73,822
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $55,770/yr, Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates from Western Michigan University land near the $62,617 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 11.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 69% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $29,646 debt-to-$55,770 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #254 out of 443 programs, Western Michigan University's financial outcomes for Computer and Information Sciences, General trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $55,770 to $73,822 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Western Michigan University

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

See all programs and financial aid at Western Michigan University →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Computer and Information Sciences, General at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Michigan University's Computer and Information Sciences, General program score?
A score of 74/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Western Michigan University trails the majority of Computer and Information Sciences, General programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Computer and Information Sciences, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer and Information Sciences, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 69% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →