Western Michigan University
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.
Located in Kalamazoo, MI and set in an urban environment, Western Michigan University is a public university. Its campus spans 1,270 acres. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 84%. The freshman retention rate at Western Michigan University is 76.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 55%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is June 1. Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about Western Michigan University.
Quick Facts
14,397
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
84%
Acceptance Rate
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
55%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you find out as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Check out some important information about admission at Western Michigan University.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 17,314 in 2023. Western Michigan University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 45.7% and ACT scores 5.4%. 2.8% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 26.1% between 1,200 and 1,399, 48.4% between 1,000 and 1,199, 21.6% of the students between 800 and 999, and 1.2% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 9.9, 40.8 between 24-29, 36.6 in the range between 18-23, and 12.7 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the admitted students in 2023 was 23 and the average GPA was 3.5. 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 559 and an average SAT Math score of 550.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is June 1.
84%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Western Michigan University was 76.5% in 2023, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 55%.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Western Michigan University in 2023 was 17,835.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 19.3. There was a total of 14,397 undergrad students, including 752 international students. 1,053 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 5,927 male and 6,418 female full-time students in 2023. 260 full-time graduate men and 623 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 320 Asian students and 1,115 Afro-American students in 2023. 1,119 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 537 identified with more than one race. The school also had 7 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 45 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 260 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Western Michigan University.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Western Michigan University estimated tuition fees.
Tuition fees for area resident were $13,850, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $17,313 in 2023. For international students, tuition fees at this school totaled $16,668. Full-time students in 2023 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $100.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $17,313 | $100 | $17,413 |
| In-State | $13,850 | $100 | $13,950 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The estimated expense 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. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2023, the price of room and board at Western Michigan University was $10,991 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school cost $5,557, according to the data from 2023.
| Tuition | $ 13,850 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,991 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,128 |
| Total Expense | $ 25,969 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Western Michigan University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,468 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $12,274.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 5,080 students who secured 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 5,875. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $17,162,438, and state $1,242,423. The students of Western Michigan University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $30,810,297, and external in the amount of $4,537,121.
$4,303
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria 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.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 330 students overall (including freshmen) at Western Michigan University in 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 156 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $12,775,146. 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 $3,556,213 USD.
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
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 1,187 faculty members at this school. This number included 563 male and 624 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
It is not all about learning and grades at Western Michigan University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Western Michigan University.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to the most recent information, there are 265 open-membership organizations at Western Michigan University. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization that is most favored by students is FOCUS Kalamazoo, followed by Black Student Union and International Student Council. Other popular organizations at Western Michigan University are Campus Activities Board and Western student Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Western Michigan University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Western Michigan University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Western Michigan University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health 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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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
Being aware of the projected salary upon finishing your studies can be important in determining if a specific school is in line with your career ambitions.
Within six months of graduation, this school's students can expect an average base annual starting salary of 55,000 USD.
$55,000
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 data indicate that the acceptance rate for Western Michigan University is 84%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Western Michigan University is 76.5%.
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.