Location: Kalamazoo, MI•In-State Tuition: $15,298•Out-of-State Tuition: $19,098•Admission Rate: 85%•Avg SAT: 1108
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$63,649
Est. from MI median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,625
Est. from MI median (3 programs)

Analysis

A statistics degree in Michigan appears to hold its value reasonably well, with peer programs suggesting first-year earnings around $63,649—slightly above the national median for the field. Western Michigan's estimated outcomes mirror the state median, putting it on par with what Michigan State graduates report and well ahead of some competitors like Grand Valley State. For a program with an 85% admission rate, these comparable earnings figures suggest solid workforce demand for quantitative skills.

The estimated debt of $25,625 translates to a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates from similar programs typically owe about five months of their first-year salary. While this debt figure runs higher than the national median for statistics programs ($20,150), Michigan's cost structure appears consistent across its public universities. The math still works: statistics graduates generally enter fields—data analysis, actuarial science, market research—where earning trajectories tend upward as technical expertise deepens.

The main caution is that we're working with estimates drawn from only three Michigan programs, not Western Michigan's specific track record. If you're comparing offers, ask the department about job placement specifics and whether their curriculum emphasizes the programming skills (R, Python, SQL) that separate $64,000 outcomes from $44,000 ones. The fundamentals look sound, but the devil's in the details when sample sizes are this small.

Where Western Michigan University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all statistics bachelors's programs nationally

Western Michigan University (estimated ±10%)Other statistics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Statistics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (13 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo$15,298$63,649*—$25,625*—
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor$17,228$64,371*$98,758$23,250*0.36
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing$15,988$63,649*$81,993$25,625*0.40
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale$14,628$43,668*$65,601$27,000*0.62
National Median—$59,718*—$20,150*0.34
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with statistics graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Actuaries

Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.

$125,770/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mathematicians

Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Western Michigan University, approximately 25% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in MI. Actual outcomes may vary.