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Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$15,273What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
85%
Graduation rate
58%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
12,568
In-state tuition
$15,252Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$19,034
SAT midpoint
1,110
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$53,562Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$15,273

Better than 46% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

58%

Better than 65% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$53,562

Better than 46% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$26,188

Better than 6% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$29,237

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$15,273

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Western Michigan University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time58%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return81%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$26,188
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$53,562

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Western Michigan University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Paper Science and Engineering$86,40116
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$76,14530
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$75,14996
Industrial Engineering$74,67020
Civil Engineering$69,70633
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$69,51444
Chemical Engineering$68,63246
Mechanical Engineering$68,26079
Engineering-Related Fields$67,99210
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$63,66515
Computer Science$60,97971
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians$60,15321
Computer and Information Sciences, General$55,77036
Business Administration, Management and Operations$55,660213
Marketing$53,081227
Finance and Financial Management Services$50,787237
Human Resources Management and Services$48,11543
Special Education and Teaching$47,86819
Accounting and Related Services$47,464177
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians$47,286Not reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$42,468116
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$41,29687
Criminal Justice and Corrections$39,61479
Design and Applied Arts$39,07749
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$38,754171
Political Science and Government$38,74439
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$37,71878
Social Work$37,20564
Biology, General$35,955123
Sociology$35,39910
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$35,20952
Health and Medical Administrative Services$35,0247
Air Transportation$34,872207
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$32,63018
International/Globalization Studies$32,14712
Communication and Media Studies$31,16948
Psychology, General$28,890111
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations$28,76524
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology$28,00749
History$27,08717
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$26,676106
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$26,50228
Music$24,77548
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$23,8463
Anthropology$22,6708
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$21,91924
Fine and Studio Arts$21,77330
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$21,58536
Dance$21,54016
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$21,46835
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsNot reported53
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralNot reported38
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesNot reported36
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesNot reported30
Data AnalyticsNot reported25
EconomicsNot reported20
Education, OtherNot reported20
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported19
Legal Professions and Studies, OtherNot reported14
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported14
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot reported14
Geography and CartographyNot reported14
Public HealthNot reported12
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reported11
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsNot reported11
Computer EngineeringNot reported9
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported8
PhysicsNot reported7
Geography and Environmental StudiesNot reported7
Mathematics and Computer ScienceNot reported7
Applied MathematicsNot reported5
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported5
ChemistryNot reported5
Arts, Entertainment, and Media ManagementNot reported5
PhilosophyNot reported5
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reported3
StatisticsNot reported3
Medical Illustration and InformaticsNot reported3
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported3
MathematicsNot reported3
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported2
Engineering, OtherNot reported2
Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesNot reported1
Management Information Systems and ServicesNot reported1
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementNot reported1
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementNot reported1
Apparel and TextilesNot reported1
Food Science and TechnologyNot reported1
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported1
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reportedNot reported
JournalismNot reportedNot reported
City/Urban, Community, and Regional PlanningNot reportedNot reported
Data ScienceNot reportedNot reported
Manufacturing EngineeringNot reportedNot reported
Telecommunications ManagementNot reportedNot reported
Business/Commerce, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Business/Managerial EconomicsNot reportedNot reported

All 99 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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