Paper Science and Engineering at Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeWorth Score (Base Case)
70
Optimistic
70
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings
$86,401/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk
High (46% exposed)
Job Market
Medium (29,000 openings/yr)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Paper Science and Engineering graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $990K | $844K | $655K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.2x | 13.8x | 10.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 13.0x | 11.0x | 8.6x |
| Viable Career Paths | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| DegreeWorth Score | 70 | 70 | 66 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (In-State)
$61,192
Out-of-state: $76,392
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,379
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Career Paths
Where Paper Science and Engineering graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 29,000 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and engineering managers | $167,740 | 14,500 | +3.8% | 41% |
| Chemical engineers | $121,860 | 1,100 | +2.6% | 46% |
| Engineers, all other | $117,750 | 9,300 | +2.1% | 46% |
| Engineering teachers, postsecondary | $106,120 | 4,100 | +8.1% | 50% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeWorth Score for Paper Science and Engineering at Western Michigan University?
This program scores 70/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI disruption risk, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 70 (optimistic) to 66 (pessimistic) depending on AI's impact.
How does AI affect Paper Science and Engineering career prospects?
We model three scenarios: Optimistic (no disruption), Base Case (gradual AI adoption), and Pessimistic (aggressive AI displacement). In the base case, Paper Science and Engineering graduates retain 4 of 4 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $654,530 (pessimistic) to $990,490 (optimistic).
How many job openings are there for Paper Science and Engineering graduates?
The career paths mapped to Paper Science and Engineering have roughly 29,000 combined job openings per year nationally, making this a medium job market.
Is Paper Science and Engineering at Western Michigan University worth it?
In the Base Case, this degree earns 13.8x its in-state tuition over 10 years. Even in the Pessimistic scenario, the multiple is 10.7x. The spread between scenarios tells you how sensitive this degree is to AI disruption.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2025.