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Kalamazoo , MI
Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Western Michigan University (WMU) is a renowned public research institution with a rich history and a strong commitment to providing quality education. Founded in 1903, WMU offers over 240 undergraduate programs and 98 graduate programs, ranging from business and engineering to the arts and sciences. The university is known for its dedication to academic excellence, innovative research, and experiential learning opportunities, thus attracting students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
WMU's campus is spread across 1,200 acres and offers state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research laboratories, and specialized centers. Students have access to numerous resources designed to support their academic and personal growth, such as libraries, career services, counseling centers, and student organizations. The university takes pride in its diverse and inclusive campus community, offering a range of support services to ensure the success and well-being of every student.
WMU is also known for its strong ties to the surrounding community through partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and government agencies. These collaborations provide students with valuable internships, co-op programs, and research opportunities, allowing them to enhance their skills and gain practical experience in their chosen fields. Moreover, the university's commitment to community engagement is evident through various outreach initiatives, volunteering programs, and the strong emphasis on civic responsibility.
Overall, Western Michigan University offers a comprehensive and top-quality education to students from various backgrounds. With its commitment to academic excellence, experiential learning, and community engagement, WMU provides a thriving environment for students to develop their skills, pursue their passions, and make a positive impact on society.
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, MI and set in an urban environment. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 84%. The freshman retention rate at Western Michigan University is 81.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 58%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is June 1. The transfer application deadline is July 27.
To find out more about what Western Michigan University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
13,860
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
58%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most essential facts you need to know about admission policy and requirements at Western Michigan University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 18,359 in 2025. Western Michigan University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
54% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 4.6% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 2.68% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 24.91% between 1,200 and 1,399, 44.22% between 1,000 and 1,199, 24.83% between 800 and 999, 3.28% between 600 and 799, and 0.07% of the students between 400 and 599. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 18.42, 38.6 between 24-29, 38.6 in the range between 18-23, and 4.39 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 25 and the average GPA was 3.53. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Western Michigan University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 557 and an average SAT Math score of 536.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Western Michigan University is June 1. If you are applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is July 27.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Western Michigan University was 81.1% in 2025, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 58%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right match for you is not a simple task. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 17,605 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 17.6. There was a total of 13,860 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 514 international students. The school admitted a total of 934 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 5,567 male and 6,426 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Western Michigan University.
This school had 364 Asian students and 1,033 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,168 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 602 as multirace. The school also had 6 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 41 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 291 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Western Michigan University estimated tuition costs.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $15,814. Tuition fees were $19,768 for students coming from out of state. Tuition costs at Western Michigan University for international students totalled $19,768. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $140 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,768 | $140 | $19,908 |
| In-State | $15,814 | $140 | $15,954 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,128.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Western Michigan University amounted to $12,661 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 added up to $6,530 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $6,530.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 15,814 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,661 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,128 |
| Total Expense | $ 29,603 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at Western Michigan University.
According to the most recent data, 1,411 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $16,229 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 5,464 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Western Michigan University isn't available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 5,782. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $23,968,690, and state $12,481,954. The students of Western Michigan University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $37,639,265, and external in the amount of $5,749,560.
$4,188
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
516 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 236 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $14,310,884. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $4,510,546 USD.
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Western Michigan University was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 1,192 faculty members at this school. This number included 554 male and 638 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Western Michigan University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some information about students' life at Western Michigan University.
Its campus is 1,270 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 311. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Latino Student Alliance, followed by Cru and National Pan-Hellenic Council. Other popular organizations among the students at Western Michigan University are International Student Council and Western Student Association.
Those interested in music can join the Western Michigan University band or chorus. For individuals with a penchant for acting, there is a drama club offering an opportunity to get involved. For students interested in media and communication, Western Michigan University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Western Michigan University offers a number of services needed for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Western Michigan University.
All in all, campus life at Western Michigan University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Western Michigan University.
Career Counselling
At Western Michigan University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
Job Placement
Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.
The starting salary for graduates employed within six months of graduating at this school averages 65,000 USD.
$65,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, MI.
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Western Michigan University doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Western Michigan University is 84%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Western Michigan University is 81.1%.
Contact Information
Western Michigan University
1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo , MI
49008
269 387-1000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
