# Western Michigan University: Paper Science and Engineering (bachelor's)

Kalamazoo, MI. IPEDS 172699, CIP 14.40. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-michigan-university/majors/paper-science-and-engineering

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $86,401
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $102,825 (U.S. median for this major: $101,225 across 2 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $27,379 (U.S. median $27,379)
- Rank in MI: 1 of 1 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the U.S. median: +$1,600

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.61 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $102,825 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 | 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 |

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

## Paper Science and Engineering at MI colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan University | $102,825 | $27,379 | $15,273 | 58% |

## Careers
- Architectural and Engineering Managers (SOC 11-9041): median wage $149,030 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, $166,930 MI, $171,270 U.S.; U.S. jobs 5.5% by 2035
- Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041): median wage $96,190 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, $103,230 MI, $125,040 U.S.; U.S. jobs 4.7% 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).