Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Western Michigan University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Western Michigan University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
54
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$31,457
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$28,655
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$613,200 | $78,391 | $28,655 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$607,191 | $79,982 | $28,655 | $28,021 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$549,185 | $77,263 | $28,655 | $30,707 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$512,470 | $75,447 | $28,655 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$484,408 | $73,968 | $28,655 | $29,875 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$455,571 | $72,465 | $28,655 | $28,969 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Engineering-Related Fields.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$394,690 | $69,288 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$388,910 | $69,269 | $28,655 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$334,698 | $66,266 | $28,655 | $26,668 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$310,750 | $65,226 | $28,655 | $29,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$290,059 | $64,202 | $28,655 | $29,156 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$288,832 | $64,120 | $28,655 | $28,850 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$278,530 | $63,480 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Medical Illustration and Informatics.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$277,180 | $61,590 | $28,655 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$182,810 | $58,964 | $28,655 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Air Transportation.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$181,710 | $58,639 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$161,150 | $57,611 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$114,470 | $55,277 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$100,130 | $54,560 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$92,157 | $54,077 | $28,655 | $25,750 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$58,758 | $52,426 | $28,655 | $26,031 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Engineering, Other.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$38,420 | $49,652 | $28,655 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
+$7,350 | $49,921 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$33,480 | $46,057 | $28,655 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Human Resources Management and Services.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$63,230 | $46,392 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$96,090 | $44,749 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$117,510 | $43,678 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$144,361 | $42,306 | $28,655 | $26,564 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$167,670 | $41,305 | $28,655 | $29,000 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$179,690 | $40,569 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$186,990 | $40,204 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Apparel and Textiles.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$189,080 | $38,277 | $28,655 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Health and Medical Administrative Services.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$206,470 | $39,230 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Special Education and Teaching.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$220,670 | $38,790 | $28,655 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$224,740 | $38,249 | $28,655 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$240,110 | $37,818 | $28,655 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$245,660 | $37,203 | $28,655 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$257,620 | $34,850 | $28,655 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$264,070 | $36,350 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$266,663 | $36,330 | $28,655 | $28,625 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
International/Global Studies.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$275,330 | $35,787 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$289,050 | $35,101 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$289,390 | $35,084 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$290,959 | $34,910 | $28,655 | $25,585 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$295,892 | $34,850 | $28,655 | $28,350 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$305,310 | $34,558 | $28,655 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$334,770 | $32,815 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$340,357 | $32,707 | $28,655 | $29,539 | Full ROI → |
| 49 |
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$404,870 | $29,310 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 50 |
History.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$457,470 | $26,950 | $28,655 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 51 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$469,062 | $26,097 | $28,655 | $26,950 | Full ROI → |
| 52 |
Music.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$475,730 | $25,767 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 53 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$522,028 | $23,553 | $28,655 | $28,495 | Full ROI → |
| 54 |
Dance.
Grad rate: 56.5% |
-$566,990 | $21,204 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.