Western Michigan University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It enrolls 12,568 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes58
Value75
Affordability53
Selectivity42
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 84.6%, Western Michigan University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
84.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Western Michigan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Western Michigan University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,273 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,273
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,252
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,034
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,174
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,174
Books & Supplies
$1,128
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,697
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,697
Total Cost of Attendance
$29,237
Application fee: $40 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$5,263
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,734
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,833
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,307
Over $110,000
$23,625
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$9,00025%percentile
$26,188Medianpercentile
$30,00075%percentile
$39,40090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,790
↓ $2,398
No Pell $15,750
↓ $10,438
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $6,688
Independent students $24,951
↓ $1,237
Female students $20,500
↓ $5,688
Male students $19,500
↓ $6,688
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,780, less than completers ($26,188), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Michigan University graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Michigan University earn a median of $53,562 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,562
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,100, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western Michigan University is home to 12,568 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
12,568
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.1%8,559
Hispanic 9.3%1,164
Black 8.2%1,031
Other 5.2%649
International 4.1%512
Asian 2.9%364
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Michigan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityKalamazoo, Michigan
Housing
Partly residential4,775 beds available
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Western Michigan University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
189 distinct programs across
27 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Michigan University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$15,421
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$634M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$94,827
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
743 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
290
39%
$117,939
Associate Professors
219
29%
$90,026
Assistant Professors
158
21%
$76,198
Instructors
76
10%
$59,199
Pros & Cons of Western Michigan University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Michigan University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
No clear weaknesses in the data.
Best for:
Based on the data, Western Michigan University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Michigan University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Michigan University.
Is Western Michigan University hard to get into?
Western Michigan University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 84.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Michigan University?
Western Michigan University has an acceptance rate of 84.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Western Michigan University cost?
The average net price after aid at Western Michigan University is $15,273 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Michigan University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,562 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,273 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western Michigan University known for?
Western Michigan University is best known for its programs in Finance, Marketing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western Michigan University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Michigan University are $53,562, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western Michigan University accredited?
Yes. Western Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Western Michigan University?
Western Michigan University enrolls 12,568 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western Michigan University?
Western Michigan University graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western Michigan University a public or private college?
Western Michigan University is a Public institution.
Where is Western Michigan University located?
Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
What programs does Western Michigan University offer?
Western Michigan University offers 189 distinct programs. The most popular include Finance, Marketing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Michigan University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Michigan University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Michigan
Other colleges in Michigan share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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