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Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 12,704 Undergrads 61.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,655
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,701
After Aid
Median Earnings
$53,562
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$18,701
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$53,562
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate61.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients26.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS72.3%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
84.7%
SAT Avg
1,108
SAT Reading
25th: 50056575th: 620
SAT Math
25th: 49054575th: 600
ACT Composite
25th: 202475th: 27
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$466k
+$70k
-$18k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$399k
+$2k
-$86k
Full Cost$29k/yr
+$363k
-$34k
-$122k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
Never
-127%
Full Cost$29k/yr
Never
-118%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-113%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-82%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,283
Lifetime Value Added
+$54k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$100,965
Lifetime Value Added
+$284k
Air Transportation
BachCIP: 4901
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,215
Lifetime Value Added
+$106k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (2yr)
$19,045
Lifetime Value Added
-$360k
Apparel and Textiles
BachCIP: 1909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,449
Lifetime Value Added
-$127k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,060
Earnings (5yr)
$60,159
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$73,821
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$27,758
Earnings (5yr)
$83,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$80,962
Lifetime Value Added
+$134k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
BachCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,153
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,362
Earnings (5yr)
$46,081
Lifetime Value Added
-$139k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$26,899
Earnings (5yr)
$60,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$29,646
Earnings (5yr)
$73,822
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$93,924
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$25,033
Earnings (5yr)
$57,991
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$25,211
Lifetime Value Added
-$316k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$67,581
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$23,442
Earnings (5yr)
$51,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1513
Median Debt
$29,875
Earnings (5yr)
$80,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$26,731
Earnings (5yr)
$27,085
Lifetime Value Added
-$300k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$223k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$97,447
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Engineering-Related Fields
BachCIP: 1515
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$87,289
Lifetime Value Added
+$181k
Engineering, Other
BachCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$68,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$40,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$24,400
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$262k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,211
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$70,882
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$23,262
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$47,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,729
Lifetime Value Added
-$172k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$26,060
Earnings (5yr)
$57,666
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (5yr)
$57,472
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,827
Lifetime Value Added
-$166k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,100
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
International/Global Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
$26,687
Earnings (5yr)
$54,564
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,933
Lifetime Value Added
-$287k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$70,079
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$29,000
Earnings (5yr)
$91,489
Lifetime Value Added
+$213k
Medical Illustration and Informatics
BachCIP: 5127
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,645
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,373
Lifetime Value Added
-$145k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$35,347
Lifetime Value Added
-$229k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,227
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (5yr)
$54,046
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$50,201
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$25,146
Earnings (5yr)
$57,951
Lifetime Value Added
-$42k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,100
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$25,745
Earnings (5yr)
$74,993
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Research and Experimental Psychology
BachCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,615
Lifetime Value Added
-$309k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$24,007
Earnings (5yr)
$38,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,620
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,064
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$24,449
Earnings (5yr)
$58,151
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$31,000
Earnings (5yr)
$49,952
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$30,750
Earnings (5yr)
$45,552
Lifetime Value Added
-$143k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$27,506
Earnings (5yr)
$49,919
Lifetime Value Added
-$107k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
BachCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (5yr)
$77,085
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$19,549
Earnings (5yr)
$87,422
Lifetime Value Added
+$297k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$88,297
Earnings (5yr)
$117,765
Lifetime Value Added
+$557k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$43,731
Earnings (5yr)
$108,642
Lifetime Value Added
+$479k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$49,498
Earnings (5yr)
$56,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,608
Earnings (5yr)
$57,569
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$33,951
Earnings (5yr)
$65,904
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,436
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,997
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$61,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$9k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$42,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,794
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$31,458
Earnings (5yr)
$63,242
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$46,387
Earnings (5yr)
$58,635
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$31,173
Earnings (5yr)
$63,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$86k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$62,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$28,579
Earnings (5yr)
$52,519
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$31,253
Earnings (2yr)
$45,696
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$35,733
Earnings (5yr)
$62,252
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Graduate Certificates
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Gr-CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,777
Lifetime Value Added
+$144k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$68,549
Earnings (5yr)
$104,633
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$93,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.