Western Michigan University Rankings & Recognition

Western Michigan University appears in 17 of CollegesRef's value rankings by major. Its best placement is #134 of 354 for marketing, and #8 of 13 ranked colleges in Michigan.

Western Michigan University rankings by major

Source: CollegesRef value rankings from U.S. College Scorecard data, 2025

Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work

Marketing

Ranked #134 of 354 for value

Marketing · 204 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $71,371; Ranked-college median: $67,486
Median debt: $23,875; Ranked-college median: $19,523

Value score 56.3 of 100 · #8 of 13 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 64th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 74th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 30th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 42th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $17,699) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 34% of earnings

Ranked just above: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (#133)
Ranked just below: Saint Edward's University (#135)

Best colleges for marketing

Engineering

Ranked #148 of 327 for value

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · 58 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $94,177; Ranked-college median: $91,742
Median debt: $27,000; Ranked-college median: $21,000

Value score 50.6 of 100 · #6 of 16 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 63th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 70th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 17th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 30th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 29% of earnings

Ranked just above: Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (#147)
Ranked just below: New York Institute of Technology (#149)

Best colleges for engineering

Criminal justice

Ranked #160 of 379 for value

Criminal Justice and Corrections · 60 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $57,012; Ranked-college median: $55,481
Median debt: $26,000; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 54.6 of 100 · #10 of 13 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 59th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 64th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 23th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 70th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $16,222) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 46% of earnings

Ranked just above: SUNY College at Plattsburgh (#159)
Ranked just below: Tiffin University (#161)

Best colleges for criminal justice

Electrical engineering

Ranked #161 of 184 for value

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 33 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $95,469; Ranked-college median: $99,787
Median debt: $29,750; Ranked-college median: $20,732

Value score 29.9 of 100 · #9 of 10 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 24th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 65th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 0th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 28th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $16,125) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 31% of earnings

Ranked just above: Youngstown State University (#160)
Ranked just below: University of Iowa (#162)

Best colleges for electrical engineering

Civil engineering

Ranked #161 of 181 for value

Civil Engineering · 26 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $78,368; Ranked-college median: $85,627
Median debt: $27,000; Ranked-college median: $20,500

Value score 25.8 of 100 · #5 of 6 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 10th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 71th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 3th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 24th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $17,058) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 35% of earnings

Ranked just above: Villanova University (#160)
Ranked just below: Rowan University (#162)

Best colleges for civil engineering

Business

Ranked #163 of 986 for value

Business Administration, Management and Operations · 202 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $75,143; Ranked-college median: $64,860
Median debt: $25,197; Ranked-college median: $21,375

Value score 67.9 of 100 · #9 of 27 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 79th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 73th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 45th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 59th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 34% of earnings

Ranked just above: University of San Diego (#162)
Ranked just below: Northern Illinois University (#164)

Best colleges for business

Finance

Ranked #220 of 330 for value

Finance and Financial Management Services · 216 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $72,353; Ranked-college median: $77,916
Median debt: $21,500; Ranked-college median: $19,500

Value score 41.1 of 100 · #6 of 12 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 33th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 72th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 20th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 41th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $17,502) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 30% of earnings

Ranked just above: Cleveland State University (#219)
Ranked just below: Bradley University (#221)

Best colleges for finance

Mechanical engineering

Ranked #239 of 276 for value

Mechanical Engineering · 49 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $87,477; Ranked-college median: $91,366
Median debt: $28,000; Ranked-college median: $20,713

Value score 30.1 of 100 · #12 of 13 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 20th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 71th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 2th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 28th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 32% of earnings

Ranked just above: Saint Cloud State University (#238)
Ranked just below: South Dakota State University (#240)

Best colleges for mechanical engineering

Education

Ranked #244 of 521 for value

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas · 116 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $49,340; Ranked-college median: $48,822
Median debt: $27,000; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 51.2 of 100 · #8 of 19 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 56th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 69th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 16th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 55th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 55% of earnings

Ranked just above: University of Iowa (#243)
Ranked just below: Kansas State University (#245)

Best colleges for education

Communications

Ranked #265 of 388 for value

Communication and Media Studies · 49 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $51,446; Ranked-college median: $56,130
Median debt: $24,232; Ranked-college median: $19,593

Value score 39.9 of 100 · #7 of 10 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 33th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 71th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 13th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 45th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 47% of earnings

Ranked just above: Lindenwood University (#264)
Ranked just below: Purdue University Northwest (#266)

Best colleges for communications

Kinesiology and exercise science

Ranked #283 of 459 for value

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 103 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $50,134; Ranked-college median: $53,707
Median debt: $23,174; Ranked-college median: $21,500

Value score 44.6 of 100 · #10 of 17 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 30th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 75th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 27th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 57th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $18,314) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 46% of earnings

Ranked just above: Western New England University (#282)
Ranked just below: Carthage College (#284)

Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science

Computer science

Ranked #298 of 466 for value

Computer Science · 42 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $90,876; Ranked-college median: $97,375
Median debt: $26,000; Ranked-college median: $19,500

Value score 40.6 of 100 · #12 of 16 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 38th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 67th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 12th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 43th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 29% of earnings

Ranked just above: Southeast Missouri State University (#297)
Ranked just below: Salem State University-Massachusetts (#299)

Best colleges for computer science

Biology

Ranked #315 of 680 for value

Biology, General · 104 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $59,249; Ranked-college median: $58,001
Median debt: $25,000; Ranked-college median: $20,717

Value score 52.8 of 100 · #8 of 19 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 57th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 73th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 24th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 46th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 42% of earnings

Ranked just above: Southern Oregon University (#314)
Ranked just below: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (#316)

Best colleges for biology

Accounting

Ranked #318 of 408 for value

Accounting and Related Services · 171 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $66,666; Ranked-college median: $76,108
Median debt: $23,000; Ranked-college median: $20,500

Value score 35.4 of 100 · #10 of 17 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 20th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 71th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 15th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 45th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 35% of earnings

Ranked just above: Robert Morris University (#317)
Ranked just below: The University of Tennessee-Martin (#319)

Best colleges for accounting

Political science

Ranked #329 of 388 for value

Political Science and Government · 35 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $54,840; Ranked-college median: $63,181
Median debt: $24,831; Ranked-college median: $19,500

Value score 31.3 of 100 · #6 of 9 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 19th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 75th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 5th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 28th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $18,238) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 45% of earnings

Ranked just above: Bridgewater State University (#328)
Ranked just below: North Dakota State University (#330)

Best colleges for political science

Psychology

Ranked #346 of 814 for value

Psychology, General · 141 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $50,655; Ranked-college median: $51,007
Median debt: $21,563; Ranked-college median: $21,000

Value score 54.3 of 100 · #7 of 21 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 48th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 75th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 44th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 50th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 43% of earnings

Ranked just above: West Virginia University (#345)
Ranked just below: University of Michigan-Dearborn (#347)

Best colleges for psychology

Nursing

Ranked #405 of 686 for value

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 97 graduates

Earnings 4 yrs after: $83,449; Ranked-college median: $85,171
Median debt: $27,000; Ranked-college median: $20,938

Value score 45.6 of 100 · #10 of 21 in Michigan

Graduate earnings · 40% of score: 42th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score: 71th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score: 11th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score: 60th percentile

Average net price $13,902 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 58.6% · debt is 32% of earnings