Western Michigan University

https://wmich.edu

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    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $15,861
    4.36% growth from 2023
    2024 Average Net Price
    $17,331
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Acceptance Rate
    84.6%
    21,701 Applicants
    2024 Enrolled Students
    16,744
    73.7% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    57.6%
    1,719 Graduates

    About

    Western Michigan University is a higher education institution located in Kalamazoo County, MI. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Michigan University were General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology (266 degrees awarded), General Finance (202 degrees), and Accounting (171 degrees).

    In 2024, 4,454 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Michigan University. 55.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 44.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,897 degrees), 9.32 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (311 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at Western Michigan University is $15,861, which is $−16,059 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    Photo by Daniel X. O'Neil
    Doctoral Universities: Higher Research ActivityDoctoral Universities

    Costs

    In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Michigan University is $15,861, which is $16,059 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $17,331.

    In 2024, 74% of undergraduate students attending Western Michigan University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 47% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

    Tuition Costs

    $15,861
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of tuition at Western Michigan University was $15,861. The cost of tuition at Western Michigan University is $−16,059 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    This chart compares the tuition costs of Western Michigan University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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    Average Net Price

    $17,331
    2024 Value
    14.1%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 Western Michigan University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,331. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Western Michigan University grew by 14.1%.

    This chart compares the average net price of Western Michigan University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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    Other Student Expenses

    $11,713
    Room and Board
    $1,128
    Books and Supplies

    The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Michigan University was of $11,713 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 5.5% between 2023 and 2024.

    During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,128. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

    This chart compares the average student costs at Western Michigan University (in red) with that of similar universities.

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    Financial Aid by Income Level

    74%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    47%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    74% of undergraduate students at Western Michigan University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 10.4% with respect to 2023, when 67% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

    This chart compares the average award discount at Western Michigan University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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    Admissions

    Western Michigan University received 21,701 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 7.97% annual growth. Out of those 21,701 applicants, 18,359 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 84.6% acceptance rate.

    There were 16,744 students enrolled at Western Michigan University in 2024. 58% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    Western Michigan University has an overall enrollment yield of 13.5%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

    Acceptance Rate

    84.6%
    Acceptance Rate in 2024
    18,359
    Accepted Out of 21,701

    In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Michigan University was 84.6% (18,359 admissions from 21,701 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 84.7%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 7.97%, while admissions grew by 7.87%.

    This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Michigan University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

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    SAT Scores

    58%
    Submission Percentage (2023)
    1,428
    Scores Submitted (2023)

    58% of enrolled first-time students at Western Michigan University in 2023 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

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    Enrollment

    Western Michigan University had a total enrollment of 16,744 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Western Michigan University is 12,338 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,406. This means that 73.7% of students enrolled at Western Michigan University are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at Western Michigan University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 65.9% White, 8.71% Hispanic or Latino, 7.88% Black or African American, 4.2% Two or More Races, 3.36% Asian, 0.442% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0538% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

    Students enrolled at Western Michigan University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (35.7%), followed by White Male (33.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.91%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (42.3%), followed by White Male (16.6%) and Black or African American Female (4.79%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    73.7%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at Western Michigan University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 16,744 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Michigan University is 12,338 and the part-time enrollment is 4,406. This means that 73.7% of students enrolled at Western Michigan University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

    This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Western Michigan University (in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Retention Rate over Time

    81%
    2024 Retention Rate

    Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Western Michigan University was 81%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Western Michigan University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

    This chart shows the retention rate over time at Western Michigan University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      11,030 enrolled students
    2. Hispanic or Latino
      1,458 enrolled students
    3. Black or African American
      1,319 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at Western Michigan University is 65.9% White, 8.71% Hispanic or Latino, 7.88% Black or African American, 4.2% Two or More Races, 3.36% Asian, 0.442% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0538% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

    Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 428 students (2.56%) did not report their race.

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    Graduates

    In 2024, 480 more women than men received degrees from Western Michigan University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Western Michigan University is white (2,897 degrees awarded). There were 9.32 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (311 degrees).

    The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Michigan University is General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology (266 degrees awarded), followed by General Finance (202 degrees) and Accounting (171 degrees).

    In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at Western Michigan University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Transportation (266 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (289 degrees), and Visual & Performing Arts (255 degrees).

    Common Jobs by Major

    Software developers
    Most Common Job

    The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Michigan University are Software developers (533,807 people), Other managers (450,069 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (375,238 people), Civil engineers (315,524 people), and Mechanical engineers (223,844 people).

    The most specialized majors at Western Michigan University in 2024 are Transportation (266 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (289 degrees), Visual & Performing Arts (255 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (116 degrees), and Engineering (316 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Highest Paying Jobs by Major

    Physicians
    Highest Paying Job

    The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Michigan University are Physicians, Surgeons, Podiatrists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

    The most specialized majors at Western Michigan University are Transportation (266 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (289 degrees), Visual & Performing Arts (255 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (116 degrees), and Engineering (316 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Common Industries by Major

    Computer Systems Design
    Most Common Industry

    The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Michigan University are Computer Systems Design (603,904 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (500,212 people), Elementary & secondary schools (459,304 people), Construction (385,646 people), and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (381,901 people).

    The most specialized majors at Western Michigan University are Transportation (266 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (289 degrees), Visual & Performing Arts (255 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (116 degrees), and Engineering (316 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Majors Awarded

    IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Western Michigan University.
    Most Common (2024)
    1. General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology
      266 degrees awarded
    2. General Finance
      202 degrees awarded
    3. Accounting
      171 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Michigan University was General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology with 266 degrees awarded.

    This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Western Michigan University according to their major.

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    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    1,987
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    2,467
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 1,987 degrees were awarded to men at Western Michigan University, which is 0.805 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,467).

    This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Western Michigan University by degrees awarded.

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    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 219 degrees were awarded to men at Western Michigan University in General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology, which is 4.66 times more than the 47 female recipients with that same degree.

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    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 116 degrees were awarded to men at Western Michigan University in General Psychology, which is 4.3 times more than the 27 male recipients with that same degree.

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    Time to Complete

    28%
    100% Completion Time
    55%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 28% of students graduating from Western Michigan University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 55% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 58% within 200%.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

    Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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    Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

    Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.
    Asian Female
    Highest Graduation Rate (71.4%)

    The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Western Michigan University is Female and Asian (71.4% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

    The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

    The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.87% of graduates (32 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      2,897 degrees awarded
    2. Black or African American
      311 degrees awarded
    3. Hispanic or Latino
      271 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at Western Michigan University is white (2,897 degrees awarded). There were 9.32 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (311 degrees).

    1.75% of degree recipients (78 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. White Female
      2,459 degrees awarded
    2. White Female
      2,390 degrees awarded
    3. White Female
      2,354 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Michigan University is white female (2,459 degrees awarded). There were 1.03 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2,390 degrees).

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    Operations

    Western Michigan University has an endowment valued at nearly $755M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 31.7M (4.2%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

    In 2024, Western Michigan University had a total salary expenditure of 492M. Western Michigan University employs 295 Professors, 225 Associate professors and 146 Assistant professors. Most academics at Western Michigan University are Male Professor (186), Female Associate professor (115), and Male Associate professor (110).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Michigan University are: Service, with 284 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 252 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 224 employees.

    Endowment

    $755M
    2024 Endowment
    19.1%
    growth from 2023

    Western Michigan University has an endowment valued at about $755M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Michigan University grew 19.1% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $503M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

    This line chart shows how the endowment at Western Michigan University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

    The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

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    Government Grants and Contracts

    Grants & Contracts
    1. $24.3M - Federal
    2. $5.38M - State
    3. $133k - Local

    As of 2024, Western Michigan University received $24.3M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $5.38M from state grants and contracts, and $133k from local grants and contracts.

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    Salary Expenditure

    $226M
    2024 Salaries
    8.32%
    growth from 2023

    In 2024, Western Michigan University paid a median of $226M in salaries, which represents 45.9% of their overall expenditure ($492M) and a 8.32% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 4.42% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 3.7% growth between 2021 and 2022.

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    Instructional Salaries

    $73.6M
    Instructional Salaries
    735
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, Western Michigan University paid a total of $73.6M to 735 employees working as instructors, which represents 32.6% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

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    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Michigan University were Service with 284 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 252 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 224 employees.

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