Programs & majors brief

Western Illinois University Majors & Programs

Updated

Which majors earn the most at Western Illinois University?

At Western Illinois University, four-year earnings differ sharply across fields, so program choice matters when reading return. Computer and Information Sciences has median earnings of $92,824 four years after completion, alongside 18 degrees awarded.

Nursing follows at $86,694 with 28 degrees awarded. These are the higher-earning fields in this selection.

The picture is more moderate elsewhere. Business Administration and Management records median earnings of $70,021 four years after completion and 73 degrees awarded, whereas Psychology records $44,683 with 70 degrees awarded.

The contrast shows that the university’s larger fields do not carry the same earnings pattern.

Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

  • Homeland security213 · 17.9%
  • Business180 · 15.1%
  • Liberal arts131 · 11.0%
  • Health professions76 · 6.4%
  • Communication71 · 6.0%
  • Other522 · 43.8%

41 of 41 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs
Computer and Information Sciences, General 18 degrees awarded
$92,824
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 28 degrees awarded
$86,694
Construction Management 14 degrees awarded
$85,974
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General 19 degrees awarded
$75,922
Accounting and Related Services 37 degrees awarded
$71,059
Human Resources Management and Services 18 degrees awarded
$70,157

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs
Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks
ProgramDegrees awarded4-yr earningsField rank
Computer and Information Sciences, General small degree count18$92,824—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing28$86,694—
Construction Management small degree count14$85,974—
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General small degree count19$75,922—
Accounting and Related Services37$71,059—
Human Resources Management and Services small degree count18$70,157—
Business Administration, Management and Operations73$70,021—
Finance and Financial Management Services small degree count19$69,716—
Fire Protection small degree count14$68,753—
Marketing small degree count19$68,306—
Chemistry small degree count13$68,249—
Criminal Justice and Corrections199$63,125—
Agriculture, General64$58,333—
Health and Medical Administrative Services small degree count15$56,771—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities131$55,944—
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services small degree count6$54,394—
Social Work22$54,063—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness30$53,576—
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count6$53,453—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas small degree count12$51,255—
Communication and Media Studies44$51,203—
Political Science and Government21$50,963—
Biology, General42$50,855—
Sociology small degree count12$50,080—
History small degree count18$47,084—
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management30$46,363—
Special Education and Teaching small degree count6$45,395—
Psychology, General70$44,683—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods45$43,279—
English Language and Literature, General small degree count11$41,984—
Music small degree count19$39,609—
Fine and Studio Arts small degree count13$35,703—
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other27Too few graduates to report—
Mechanical Engineering small degree count13Too few graduates to report—
Civil Engineering small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
Mathematics small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
Anthropology small degree count13Too few graduates to report—
Economics small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
Visual and Performing Arts, Other small degree count10Too few graduates to report—
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services20Too few graduates to report—
Public Health small degree count7Too few graduates to report—

Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings

What are the largest programs at Western Illinois University?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded
Criminal Justice and Corrections
199
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
131
Business Administration, Management and Operations
73
Psychology, General
70
Agriculture, General
64
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
45
Communication and Media Studies
44
Biology, General
42
Accounting and Related Services
37
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
30

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions

How do Western Illinois University majors rank nationally?

National program ranks are not reported for this school.

How Azimuth compares programs across colleges

Further analysis

Azimuth's program pages score bachelor's fields on four-year earnings among completers, debt load and cohort size, not reputation. Western Illinois University publishes earnings data for 32 bachelor's programs, and the results differ widely by field.

The largest share of degrees awarded sits in Security & Protective Services, at 17.8%. Business accounts for 15.1%, and Liberal Arts & General Studies for 11.0%.

Criminal Justice is the biggest single program, with 199 degrees awarded a year and median earnings of $63,125 four years after completion. The highest-earning program is Computer and Information Sciences, where graduates earn $92,824 from 18 degrees awarded a year.

Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: methodology.

Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.