Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Willamette University vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 17 programs with available earnings data.
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Willamette University.
Computer Science. leads engineering & technology with 70K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science.Small sample | — | $70,456 | — | 12 |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
Biology, General. leads sciences & mathematics with 53K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | — | $53,079★ | — | 31 |
| Algebra and Number Theory.Small sample | — | $42,682 | — | 13 |
| Analytical Chemistry.Small sample | — | $27,204 | — | 15 |
Applied Economics. leads social sciences & policy with 68K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics. | — | $67,830★ | — | 40 |
| American Government and Politics (United States). | — | $58,791 | — | 25 |
| Psychology, General. | — | $42,378 | — | 33 |
| Applied/Public Sociology. | — | $40,935 | — | 21 |
| Anthropology, General.Small sample | — | $21,508 | — | 9 |
Communication and Media Studies, Other. leads communications with 31K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | — | $31,472 | — | 29 |
Catalan Language and Literature. leads humanities & arts with 37K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalan Language and Literature.Small sample | — | $36,617★ | — | 18 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | — | $25,658 | — | 25 |
| American History (United States).Small sample | — | $22,192 | — | 12 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation.Small sample | — | $20,140 | — | 8 |
Environmental Science. leads agriculture & environment with 50K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science. | — | $49,845 | — | 33 |
Exercise Science and Kinesiology. leads other & interdisciplinary with 27K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | — | $26,570★ | — | 23 |
| International/Globalization Studies.Small sample | — | $22,667 | — | 13 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
