U.S. median for this major: $101,225.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 27% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $27,379.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $29,237. College Scorecard.
WMU Paper Science and Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Michigan colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Paper Science and Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses WMU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $5,263 | $24,262 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $5,734 | $26,434 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $13,833 | $63,770 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $18,307 | $84,395 | 1.2 years |
| $110k+ | $23,625 | $108,911 | 1.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (29% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Paper Science and Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($102,825) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $69,414 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Careers for Paper Science and Engineering graduates
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Chemical Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at WMU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About WMU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,562
- Full cost breakdown · all 99 majors · overview
Related majors at WMU
- Chemical Engineering$91,777
- Electrical Engineering$95,469
- Civil Engineering$78,368
- Engineering, Other—
WMU Paper Science and Engineering questions
How much do WMU Paper Science and Engineering graduates earn?
Paper Science and Engineering graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median $102,825 four years after graduating and $86,401 one year after. The U.S. median for Paper Science and Engineering graduates across 2 colleges is $101,225.
How much debt do WMU Paper Science and Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Paper Science and Engineering graduates of Western Michigan University is $27,379, about 27% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $27,379.
Where does WMU rank for Paper Science and Engineering in Michigan?
Of 1 Michigan colleges reporting Paper Science and Engineering graduate earnings, Western Michigan University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Paper Science and Engineering graduates get?
A common career is architectural and engineering managers, with a median wage of $149,030 in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI area and $171,270 nationally. Others include chemical engineers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Western Michigan University Paper Science and Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-michigan-university/majors/paper-science-and-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).