Westfield State University
Westfield, Massachusetts · Public · 81.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 63/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Westfield State University earns a 63 ROI score (Fair Value). The composite is held up by a 0.334 earnings premium (sub-score 73) and 80.1% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 71) - Massachusetts's higher wage levels and strong labor market drive the earnings advantage. In-state tuition is $12,179 with average net price of $16,721 and total four-year cost around $66,884. Earnings of $37,500 at six years climb to $57,346 at ten - strong long-run growth reflecting the Springfield/Hartford/Boston metro reach. Median debt of $22,457 produces a $238/month payment, a 0.599 debt-to-earnings ratio, and a 9.3-year payback period (sub-score 66). The completion rate of 54.4% (sub-score 49) is the principal weakness - less than half of the cohort finishes within 150% of normal time. For Massachusetts in-state students who finish, the math works clearly.
Westfield State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,179/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,259/yr |
| Average net price | $16,721/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $66,884 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,346 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,457 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $238 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,615 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,179/year ($18,259/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,721/year, or roughly $66,884 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,751/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,286/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,457, which works out to about $238 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,500) and comes to 0.60, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,751 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,517 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,199 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,201 |
| $110,001+ | $23,286 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families at $0-$30,000 pay $10,751 net (~$43K over four years) and $30,001-$48,000 pay $11,517. Total four-year cost in this bracket is genuinely affordable. Pell plus MASSGrant and other state aid does meaningful work. Many low-income students will graduate with debt well below the $22,457 median. The math is workable here.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$48,001-$75,000 households pay $14,199 and $75,001-$110,000 pay $18,201. Total four-year cost ranges $57K-$73K. Bracket structure rises smoothly through tiers (no inversions). For middle-income Massachusetts families, this is a defensible value play - especially for students aiming at nursing, CS, business, or criminal justice careers in the regional economy.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $23,286 (~$93K over four years). High-income families typically choose Westfield State for fit, location, or specific programs over headline ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Westfield State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $67,363 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $51,730 | D |
| Psychology | $54,484 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $66,889 | C |
| Teacher Education | $51,049 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $93,248 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,828 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,349 | D |
| Biology | $64,904 | C |
| Social Work | $55,699 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing posts a B+ grade with 61 graduates. First-year earnings of $81,136 climb to $93,248 by year four against $26,900 debt (0.332 ratio). The Boston/Springfield/Hartford hospital systems drive these strong figures. This is the clearest high-confidence ROI path at Westfield State.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal justice is by far the largest program at 143 graduates with a C grade. First-year earnings of $42,228 grow to $67,363 by year four against $24,422 debt (0.578 first-year ratio). Solid C-grade for a non-STEM track.
Computer Science
Computer science delivers a B grade with 12 graduates: $66,349 first-year earnings climb to $95,932 by year four against $27,000 debt (0.407 ratio). The cohort is small but Massachusetts tech employers (especially those with Springfield/Hartford operations or remote-friendly Boston-area firms) absorb graduates well. Strong outcome for prepared students.
Business Administration and Management
Business management enrolls 82 graduates with a C grade. First-year earnings of $41,862 rise to $66,889 by year four against $26,000 debt (0.621 first-year ratio).
Psychology
Psychology pulls 84 graduates with a D grade. First-year earnings of $31,179 against $27,000 debt yields a 0.866 ratio. As at most schools, the credential under-earns the cost without graduate school. Year-four earnings of $54,484 suggest substantial graduate-school finish among the cohort. Plan the pathway clearly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Westfield State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 81.4% |
| Enrollment | 3,615 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,555 |
Westfield State admits 81.4% of applicants. The 54.4% completion rate is consistent with a school that admits a wide preparation range. Prepared in-state students with clear majors finish at materially higher rates than the headline number.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield State University (this school) | 63 | $16,721 | $57,346 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 66 | $14,054 | $54,458 |
| Bridgewater State University | 59 | $16,383 | $57,466 |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 59 | $17,156 | $56,403 |
| Fitchburg State University | 58 | $14,262 | $53,874 |
| Vermont State University | 55 | $18,212 | $50,331 |
Who Thrives Here
Westfield State fits Western Massachusetts in-state students - especially those from the Pioneer Valley, Springfield area, and the broader I-91 corridor. Pell rate of 33% reflects a working-to-middle-class student body. Enrollment of 3,615 keeps things mid-sized. The strongest individual outcomes cluster in nursing (B+ grade, 61 graduates), computer science (B), information science, criminal justice (143 graduates per cohort, the largest program), and business. Liberal-arts (124 grads), psychology (84 grads), and teacher education (78 grads) cohorts face structurally weaker ROI despite the modest cost.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Westfield State University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,721 a year after aid ($66,884 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $57,346 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.3 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $22,457 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Westfield State University: Common Questions
Is Westfield State University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Westfield State University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 63/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,721 a year after aid ($66,884 over four years) against $57,346 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.3 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Westfield State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,721 a year, or roughly $66,884 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Westfield State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,346 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,546 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Westfield State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.3 years for Westfield State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Westfield State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,457, against average earnings of $37,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Westfield State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.