All WMU majors by area
- Engineering · 14
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 14
- Business & Finance · 13
- Humanities & Languages · 13
- Health & Medicine · 11
- Science & Math · 11
- Arts & Design · 7
- Technology & Computing · 6
- Communications & Media · 4
- Education · 4
- Trades & Applied Technology · 2
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Science and Engineering | $86,401 | $102,825 | $27,379 |
| Electrical Engineering | $76,145 | $95,469 | $30,707 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical / Space Engineering | $69,514 | $94,177 | $28,021 |
| Industrial Engineering | $74,670 | $92,306 | — |
| Chemical Engineering | $68,632 | $91,777 | $29,000 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $67,992 | $88,746 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $68,260 | $87,477 | $31,000 |
| Drafting / Design Engineering Technologies / Technicians | $60,153 | $84,622 | $31,000 |
| Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians | $63,665 | $82,740 | $29,875 |
| Civil Engineering | $69,706 | $78,368 | $29,156 |
| City / Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | — | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | — | — | — |
| Manufacturing Engineering | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | $55,660 | $75,143 | $27,000 |
| Finance | $50,787 | $72,353 | $26,031 |
| Human Resources | $48,115 | $71,870 | $27,000 |
| Marketing | $53,081 | $71,371 | $25,750 |
| Accounting | $47,464 | $66,666 | $27,000 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $28,765 | $46,543 | $26,000 |
| Business | — | — | — |
| Business Economics | — | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurship | — | — | — |
| Management Information Systems | — | — | — |
| Management Science / Analytics | — | — | — |
| Telecommunications Management | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $38,754 | $54,597 | $31,000 |
| History | $27,087 | $46,909 | $31,000 |
| English | — | $43,628 | $28,350 |
| Writing | $21,468 | $40,792 | $27,000 |
| International / Global Studies | $32,147 | $40,663 | $27,000 |
| Spanish / French / Romance Languages | $32,630 | $37,013 | $28,625 |
| Classics | — | — | — |
| East Asian Languages (Chinese / Japanese / Korean) | — | — | — |
| Ethnic / Gender Studies | — | — | $26,000 |
| Geography and Environmental Studies | — | — | — |
| German | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | — | — | — |
| Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $75,149 | $83,449 | $28,850 |
| Rehabilitation / Therapy Sciences | — | $68,351 | $26,668 |
| Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders | — | $58,023 | $27,000 |
| Dietetics | — | $56,449 | $26,990 |
| Health Administration | $35,024 | $54,265 | $27,000 |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $26,676 | $50,134 | $26,000 |
| Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech) | — | $48,065 | — |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Health Sciences | — | — | — |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | $35,955 | $59,249 | $27,000 |
| Geology / Earth Science | — | $58,164 | — |
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Biochemistry | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | — | — | — |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | $23,846 | — | $31,455 |
| Environmental Science / Conservation | $21,919 | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Physics | — | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design | $39,077 | $58,634 | $27,000 |
| Film and Photography | $26,502 | $45,391 | $27,000 |
| Dance | $21,540 | $45,108 | $27,000 |
| Theatre | $21,585 | $44,694 | $26,950 |
| Studio Art | $21,773 | $36,615 | $28,495 |
| Music | $24,775 | $36,254 | $27,000 |
| Arts and Entertainment Management | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $60,979 | $90,876 | $28,969 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $55,770 | $74,566 | $31,000 |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Data Science | — | — | — |
| Information Technology | — | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Relations and Advertising | $37,718 | $64,127 | $27,000 |
| Communications | $31,169 | $51,446 | $26,000 |
| Broadcasting / Digital Media | — | — | — |
| Journalism | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education | $47,868 | $50,665 | $31,000 |
| Education (Subject Teaching) | $42,468 | $49,340 | $29,000 |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $41,296 | $47,898 | $31,000 |
| Education, Other | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Transportation | $34,872 | $89,564 | $27,000 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies / Technicians | $47,286 | $76,241 | $27,000 |
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
Marketing → Marketing specialist
Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 7.0% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.
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 WMU students earn a median $53,562 ten years after starting college, more than 52% of Michigan colleges we cover. 58% graduate within six years.
WMU majors questions
How many majors does WMU offer?
Western Michigan University offers 99 bachelor's majors across 11 areas; the most majors are in Engineering and Social Sciences & Public Service.
What is the highest-paying major at WMU?
Paper Science and Engineering graduates from Western Michigan University earn a median $102,825 four years after graduating, the highest of the 56 majors with reported earnings. Their median debt is $27,379.
Which WMU majors earn the least?
Among majors with reported earnings, Music graduates earn the least: a median $36,254 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 Michigan University overview