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Finance and Financial Management Services bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Federal field 5208

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$25,267 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
40.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−44% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+59%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$40,575$64,679
Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
22Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
36Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
88Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$15,333Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,315

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$23,625

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$58,076

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$250/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,315Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,992Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE81.8%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE60.3%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$40,575Year 1
$58,076Year 4
$64,679Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.2% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,840
Estimated loan payment$250
88borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$58,076 vs. $83,343

$25,267 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Financial Managers$166,780 median wageNC estimate · 22,460 jobs · 11-3031+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 65.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBusiness Teachers, Postsecondary$79,600 median wageNC estimate · 2,960 jobs · 25-1011+5.9% projected U.S. growth · 7.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeFinancial Risk Specialists$132,040 median wageNC estimate · 3,200 jobs · 13-2054+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 4.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFinancial and Investment Analysts$102,390 median wageNC estimate · 12,710 jobs · 13-2051+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 24.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCredit Analysts$94,570 median wageNC estimate · 3,270 jobs · 13-2041-4.3% projected U.S. growth · 3.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCredit Counselors$46,180 median wageNC estimate · 320 jobs · 13-2071+3.3% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeGeneral and Operations Managers$101,950 median wageNC estimate · 63,740 jobs · 11-1021+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 285k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePersonal Financial Advisors$96,880 median wageNC estimate · 12,340 jobs · 13-2052+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 17.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBudget Analysts$82,350 median wageNC estimate · 1,830 jobs · 13-2031+1.9% projected U.S. growth · 2.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLoan Officers$75,920 median wageNC estimate · 10,700 jobs · 13-2072+1.1% projected U.S. growth · 17.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecurities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$74,040 median wageNC estimate · 21,890 jobs · 41-3031+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 35.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChief Executives$314,290 median wageNC estimate · 1,930 jobs · 11-1011+3.2% projected U.S. growth · 19.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University

$87,920 higher earnings · $4,125 less debt

Earnings
$145,996
Debt
$19,500
Annual net price
$28,719
View outcomes →
Elon, NC

Elon University

$45,350 higher earnings · $4,125 less debt

Earnings
$103,426
Debt
$19,500
Annual net price
$41,555
View outcomes →
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

$20,248 higher earnings · $483 less debt

Earnings
$78,324
Debt
$23,142
Annual net price
$15,739
View outcomes →
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

$17,320 higher earnings · $2,358 less debt

Earnings
$75,396
Debt
$21,267
Annual net price
$16,836
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

36 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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