Western Michigan University (2024)

gradeB

Overall Niche Grade

How are grades calculated?Data Sources

  1. Academics

    gradeB

  2. Value

    gradeB

  3. Diversity

    gradeA

  4. Campus

    gradeB+

  5. Athletics

    gradeA minus

  6. Party Scene

    gradeA

  7. Professors

    gradeB+

  8. Location

    gradeB

  9. Dorms

    gradeB

  10. Campus Food

    gradeA

  11. Student Life

    gradeA

  12. Safety

    gradeB

editorial

Western Michigan is an above-average public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 11,421 undergraduate students. The Western Michigan acceptance rate is 85%. Popular majors include Marketing, Aeronautics and Aviation Technology, and Psychology. Graduating 55% of students, Western Michigan alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $32,300.

1903 W MICHIGAN AVE
KALAMAZOO, MI 49008

About Western Michigan...

  • Common App Accepted
  • Public College
  • SAT/ACT Optional
  • Some Online Degrees

Athletics Division

NCAA Division I-FBS

Athletics Conference

Mid-American Conference

Compare to Other Colleges

  • Michigan
  • Kalamazoo

Western Michigan University Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

See All Western Michigan University Rankings

Admissions

Application Deadline

Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.

Rolling Admissions

Acceptance Rate

85%

Students also applied to ...

  • gradeB+

    Central Michigan University

  • gradeB+

    Grand Valley State University

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    Eastern Michigan University

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    Ferris State University

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    Saginaw Valley State University

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    Wayne State University

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    Michigan State University

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    Oakland University

SAT Range

990-1220

ACT Range

19-27

Application Fee

$40

SAT/ACT

Considered but not required

High School GPA

Required

Early Decision/Early Action

No

Accepts Common App

Yes

Application Website

Admissions Website

Read More About Admissions

Will You Get Into WMU?

Find Student Loans

Cost

Net Price

$20,030/ year

National

$15,523

Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.

Find Private Student Loans

Find College Scholarships

Average Total Aid Awarded

$6,813/ year

National

$7,535

Students Receiving Financial Aid

94%

Find college scholarships

Academics

Professors

gradeB+

Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.

Student Faculty Ratio

14:1

Evening Degree Programs

No

76%

of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.216 responses

69%

of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.254 responses

60%

of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.254 responses

Read More About Academics

Majors

Most Popular Majors

  • Marketing

    281 Graduates

  • Aeronautics and Aviation Technology

    214 Graduates

  • Psychology

    186 Graduates

  • Finance

    182 Graduates

  • Liberal Arts and Humanities

    175 Graduates

  • Accounting

    172 Graduates

  • Criminal Justice and Safety Studies

    119 Graduates

  • Nursing

    115 Graduates

  • Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Medicine

    105 Graduates

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management

    92 Graduates

See All Majors

Online Academics

Offers Online Courses

College offers distance education courses.

Yes

How Students Learn

Based on class setting of student enrollment.

  • Mix of Online and on Campus

    60%

  • On Campus

    34%

  • Online

    6%

Programs Offered Entirely Online

Total number of complete undergraduate programs offered online or through distance learning.

3

Online Certificate Programs

Total number of certificate degree programs offered online or through distance education.

1

Online Associates Programs

Total number of associate degree programs offered online or through distance education.

Online Bachelor's Programs

Total number of bachelor's degree programs offered online or through distance education.

2

Explore All Online Majors

Students

Full-Time Enrollment

11,421Undergrads

Part-Time Undergrads

2,168

Undergrads Over 25

9%

Pell Grant

25%

Varsity Athletes

3%

Poll

What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?

Based on

186 responses

  • You can't describe all in one word everyone varies

    38%

  • Outgoing/friendly

    26%

  • Determined

    15%

  • Interesting

    10%

  • Average

    6%

  • Reserved

    3%

  • Stressed

    1%

Read More About the Students

Campus Life

Freshman Live On-Campus

No data available

Day Care Services

No

Poll

53%

of students say that Greek life is average, and no one will treat you differently if you don't join.297 responses

Poll

62%

of students say varsity sports are a big part of campus life.348 responses

Poll

What one word or phrase best describes your school?

Based on

200 responses

  • Diverse

    24%

  • Sociable

    23%

  • Lively

    16%

  • Amazing

    12%

  • Busy

    10%

  • Flexible

    6%

  • Home away from home

    3%

80%

of students highly rate the athletics/recreation facilities.206 responses

49%

of students highly rate the dining facilities.206 responses

75%

of students highly rate the performing arts facilities.206 responses

Read More About Campus Life

After College

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$45,000/ year

National

$33,028

Graduation Rate

55%

National

49%

Employed 2 Years After Graduation

94%

National

83%

88%

of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.155 responses

Read More About Life After Graduation

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Western Michigan University Reviews

Rating 3.75 out of 5 3,644 reviews

Rating 3 out of 5

  • Sophomore
  • 28 days ago
Review Western Michigan University

Rating 5 out of 5

  • Junior
  • 18 days ago

Rating 4 out of 5

  • Alum
  • a month ago
Western Michigan University (2024)

FAQs

How hard is it to get into Western Michigan University? ›

The acceptance rate at Western Michigan University is 84.6%.

This means the school is not selective.

How prestigious is Western Michigan University? ›

Western Michigan University Rankings

Western Michigan University is ranked #304 out of 439 National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

Can I get into Western Michigan with a 2.5 GPA? ›

A student's academic performance (including a minimum GPA 3.00+ {on a 4.00 scale}) and conduct/behavior are the main criteria for the program. View more information on the Assured Admission Program website. Overall academic performance and grade trend is neutral or positive.

Should I go to MSU or WMU? ›

Academics: MSU is generally considered more prestigious, so while both schools have strong programs, MSU may have more resources and research opportunities. However, the strength of a specific program should also be considered – WMU has well-regarded aviation and music programs, for example.

What degree is Western Michigan known for? ›

Western has nationally acclaimed programs in Music, Business, Theater, Engineering and Aviation to name a few. If you can't have a great, affordable college experience at Western Michigan University then you didn't try very hard.

What is Western Michigan's acceptance rate? ›

Admissions Rate: 84.6%

This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are. The acceptance rate at Western Michigan University is 84.6%. For every 100 applicants, 85 are admitted. This means the school is lightly selective.

Who is the richest alumni of Western Michigan University? ›

There are only two WMU alumni on Forbes' list of billionaires. One is Ronda Stryker, who is worth $6.7 billion. The Stryker family, which owns Kalamazoo-based medical device manufacturer Stryker Corp., is worth $14 billion all together.

Is Michigan the Harvard of the West? ›

At the time, Michigan was often referred to as the Harvard of the West,” Kemp says. “Kennedy, a Harvard graduate, commented that he was pleased to be in Ann Arbor as a graduate of the Michigan of the East.”

How liberal is Western Michigan University? ›

For every one conservative student, there are roughly 2.5 liberal students.

What is the average tuition for Western Michigan University? ›

The net price is the average cost of the university after aid and scholarship funds are discounted from the total cost, which come in on average at $18,641 for in-state students and $24,257 for out-of-state students receiving need-based aid.

What does Western Michigan University look for in applicants? ›

Official High School Transcripts

This allows us to consider both the grades you received as well as the difficulty of your courses. If you earned a “C” or better in any AP, IB, Honors, Dual Enrollment, or AICE course, we will include an additional honor point for that course.

Does WMU require an essay? ›

While recommendation letters, essays and other supplemental materials are optional, students who wish to be considered for these programs should submit them.

Is Western Michigan a hard school to get into? ›

Western Michigan University admissions has an acceptance rate of 85% and an early acceptance rate of 88.6%. Half the applicants admitted to Western Michigan University who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 990 and 1220 or an ACT score of 19 and 27.

Is Western Michigan University a Tier 1 school? ›

WMU is listed as one of the top-tier universities among 281 institutions—173 public, 101 private and seven for-profit—the magazine singles out as having national standing and being among the nation's best.

Has WMU ever beat MSU? ›

WMU's two wins against Michigan State came in 1917 and 1919. Western Michigan has scored at least 20 points against Michigan State twice. Once came in a 21-18 win on Oct. 11, 1919 and the second time was a 26-21 loss in 2003.

What GPA do you need for Western Michigan University aviation? ›

Program Requirements

Registration is administered by the College of Aviation. Students enrolled in flight training must maintain an average GPA of 2.75 overall and a 3.0 College of Aviation GPA.

How hard is it to get into Western Michigan medical school? ›

A strong academic foundation is required for success in medical school and in a career in medicine. We look at both your GPA and MCAT score to assess your academic readiness for medical school. A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required. We will review applications with an upward trend.

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