All Western Illinois University majors by area
- Business & Finance · 12
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 11
- Health & Medicine · 9
- Humanities & Languages · 9
- Science & Math · 7
- Education · 6
- Engineering · 6
- Communications & Media · 5
- Arts & Design · 4
- Technology & Computing · 3
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Management | $70,789 | $85,974 | $26,000 |
| Accounting | $49,900 | $71,059 | $30,023 |
| Human Resources | $47,467 | $70,157 | $26,000 |
| Business Administration | $45,137 | $70,021 | $27,000 |
| Finance | — | $69,716 | $27,000 |
| Marketing | $39,977 | $68,306 | $29,592 |
| Business Economics | — | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurship | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Management | — | — | — |
| Management Science / Analytics | — | — | — |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $74,490 | $86,694 | $23,750 |
| Health Administration | $40,261 | $56,771 | $39,688 |
| Dietetics | — | $54,394 | — |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $28,315 | $53,576 | $31,000 |
| Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech) | — | $49,431 | — |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Medical Laboratory Science | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders | — | — | $20,375 |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts / General Studies | $38,196 | $55,944 | $28,750 |
| Linguistics | $37,155 | $53,453 | $29,875 |
| History | — | $47,084 | $31,250 |
| English | $30,652 | $41,984 | $23,750 |
| Ethnic / Gender Studies | — | — | — |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | — | — | — |
| Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Spanish / French / Romance Languages | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | $31,980 | $68,249 | $27,000 |
| Agriculture | $48,509 | $58,333 | $18,969 |
| Biology | $34,052 | $50,855 | $27,585 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | — | — | — |
| Geology / Earth Science | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Physics | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Subject Teaching) | $44,376 | $51,255 | — |
| Special Education | $46,729 | $45,395 | $25,986 |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $40,544 | $43,279 | $25,133 |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | — | — | — |
| Educational / Instructional Media Design | — | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Technologies / Technicians | $64,762 | $75,922 | $32,373 |
| Civil Engineering | — | — | — |
| Electrical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering | $66,112 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications | $34,142 | $51,203 | $30,000 |
| Graphic Communications | — | $50,751 | — |
| Broadcasting / Digital Media | $27,462 | $46,966 | $29,054 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | — | — | — |
| Journalism | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music | $32,666 | $39,609 | $30,000 |
| Studio Art | $26,196 | $35,703 | $27,000 |
| Theatre | — | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $62,578 | $92,824 | $25,250 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | — | — | — |
| Information Technology | — | — | — |
College Scorecard field of study, latest release: median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, 1 and 4 years after graduating; median federal loan debt. — means too few graduates to report.
From major to career
Criminal Justice → Police officer
Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: high school diploma or equivalent.
BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Business Administration → Management analyst
Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.
BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Across all majors, former Western Illinois University students earn a median $54,163 ten years after starting college, more than 34% of Illinois colleges we cover. 45% graduate within six years.
Western Illinois University majors questions
How many majors does Western Illinois University offer?
Western Illinois University offers 72 bachelor's majors across 10 areas; the most majors are in Business & Finance and Social Sciences & Public Service.
What is the highest-paying major at Western Illinois University?
Computer and Information Sciences graduates from Western Illinois University earn a median $92,824 four years after graduating, the highest of the 37 majors with reported earnings. Their median debt is $25,250.
Which Western Illinois University majors earn the least?
Among majors with reported earnings, Studio Art graduates earn the least: a median $35,703 four years after graduating.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections). Back to Western Illinois University overview