# Western Michigan University: Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design (bachelor's)

Kalamazoo, MI. IPEDS 172699, CIP 50.04. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-michigan-university/majors/graphic-interior-fashion-design

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $39,077
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $58,634 (U.S. median for this major: $53,514 across 277 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $27,000 (U.S. median $26,502)
- Rank in MI: 3 of 8 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the MI median for this major (8 colleges, $53,752): +$4,882
- Versus the U.S. median: +$5,120

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.61 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $58,634 minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $5,263 | $24,262 | 1.0 years |
| 30-48k | $5,734 | $26,434 | 1.0 years |
| 48-75k | $13,833 | $63,770 | 2.5 years |
| 75-110k | $18,307 | $84,395 | 3.3 years |
| 110k+ | $23,625 | $108,911 | 4.3 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design at MI colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Technological University | $99,444 | not reported | $32,918 | 61% |
| College for Creative Studies | $61,222 | $26,000 | $34,617 | 71% |
| Western Michigan University | $58,634 | $27,000 | $15,273 | 58% |
| Central Michigan University | $54,254 | $28,500 | $17,597 | 59% |
| Michigan State University | $53,250 | $28,175 | $19,680 | 81% |
| Ferris State University | $50,658 | $27,000 | $8,624 | 47% |
| Oakland University | $47,432 | $27,954 | $9,120 | 58% |
| Saginaw Valley State University | $41,864 | $26,125 | $10,775 | 48% |

## Careers
- Graphic designer (SOC 27-1024): median wage $57,820 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, $57,350 MI, $62,960 U.S.; U.S. jobs -1.7% by 2035
- Web and Digital Interface Designers (SOC 15-1255): median wage $78,880 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, $81,010 MI, $104,000 U.S.; U.S. jobs 6% by 2035
- Art Directors (SOC 27-1011): median wage not reported Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, $86,660 MI, $114,850 U.S.; U.S. jobs 4.2% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).