Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Overview

Western Michigan University is a public, state school in an urban setting in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Western Michigan University was founded in 1903 and the school enrolls around 19,038 students a year, which includes 15,309 undergrads. Western Michigan University offers housing for up to 5,130 students. The majority of students live on campus but first-year students are not required to live in the dorms. On the weekends, about 70% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

Student Involvement at Western Michigan University

Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

Are you interested in journalism and communications? Western Michigan University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? Western Michigan University has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Western Michigan University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Western Michigan University on the Student Life page.

Is Western Michigan University a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions difficulty, admitted student statistics, tuition, and financial aid can provide a sense of how selective a college is.

Let's take a look at these factors to get a better sense of what Western Michigan University offers and if it could be a good fit for you.

Western Michigan University Acceptance Rate 2022

Western Michigan University is moderately difficult to get into. The university admitted 83% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 18,853 applications received in 2022, 15,612 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Western Michigan University

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It gauges how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 77% of students who start at Western Michigan University come back the next year. Around 56% of students who started at Western Michigan University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outcomes for Western Michigan University Grads

Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. Within six months of graduating, 70% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

The average starting salary for recent Western Michigan University grads is $45,000 a year. Average starting salaries vary by discipline, but the average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year.

Western Michigan University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

Western Michigan University's endowment was valued at $497.1 million in 2022, compared to a national average of $905 million. The school spends $10,983 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Western Michigan University

Tuition cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

Western Michigan University meets 51% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Western Michigan University full-time are awarded $10,737 a year in financial aid, on average.

Graduates in the class of 2022 had an average of $36,317 in student loans per borrower. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Western Michigan University.

Based on this information, does Western Michigan University seem like a good fit? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may not be the right school for another! So ask yourself: Is Western Michigan University a good school for you?

If Western Michigan University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Looking for Schools?

Choose one of the options below to learn more about Western Michigan University:

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Western Michigan University Community Forums

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Where is Western Michigan University Located?

Western Michigan University is located in the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

If you are interested in seeing Western Michigan University for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 94 to Kalamazoo, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in Michigan?

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