Economics graduates from Western Michigan University earn $33,993 median salary — below the national average for this program.
Economics at Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Economics at Western Michigan University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Western Michigan University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Economics at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 12 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Western Michigan University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $33,993 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $75,993 across all institutions offering Economics, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Western Michigan University, the mean median-earnings figure is $60,767, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. Median federal debt is not separately reported for this program at this school.. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Economics at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Williams College | $166,678 | $12,925 |
| Duke University | $161,149 | $13,187 |
| Princeton University | $160,763 | $11,250 |
| University of Chicago | $159,578 | $13,395 |
| Harvard University | $155,592 | $6,617 |
| Dartmouth College | $152,929 | $18,132 |
| Claremont McKenna College | $146,524 | $12,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $144,886 | $22,020 |
| Yale University | $142,936 | $12,562 |
| Amherst College | $141,730 | $16,662 |
Other Programs at Western Michigan University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $123,892 | $88,297 |
| Paper Science and Engineering | $102,825 | $27,379 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $96,045 | $43,731 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $95,469 | $27,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $94,177 | $27,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $94,135 | $68,549 |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,306 | — |
| Chemical Engineering | $91,777 | $27,758 |
| Computer Science | $90,876 | $27,000 |
| Air Transportation | $89,564 | $25,500 |
Other Schools with Economics
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.