Western Michigan University

https://wmich.edu/

Add Comparison

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$12,094

0% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$18,091

After Financial Aid

2018 Student Loan

5.62%

Default Rate

2020 Acceptance Rate

84.9%

16,582 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

19,887

71.5% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

56.7%

1,683 Graduates

About

Western Michigan University is a higher education institution located in Kalamazoo County, MI. In 2020, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Western Michigan University were Other Multidisciplinary Studies (222 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (129 degrees), and General Finance (127 degrees).

In 2020, 5,211 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Michigan University. 54.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 45.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,623 degrees), 8.57 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (423 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Michigan University is $12,094, which is $−16,469 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

Photo by Daniel X. O'Neil

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Michigan University is $12,094, which is $−16,469 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $18,091.

In 2020, 57% of undergraduate students attending Western Michigan University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 56% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$12,094

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at Western Michigan University was $12,094. The cost of tuition at Western Michigan University is $−16,469 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

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

Average Net Price

$18,091

2020 Value

6.24%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 Western Michigan University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,091. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of Western Michigan University grew by 6.24%.

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.

Other Student Expenses

$10,567

Room and Board

$987

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Michigan University was of $10,567 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $987. The cost of room and board increased by 4.18% between 2019 and 2020. The cost of books and supplies increased by 1.96% during the same period.

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

Financial Aid by Income Level

57%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

56%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

57% of undergraduate students at Western Michigan University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2019, when 57% 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.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

5.62%

2018 Default Rate

306

Number of Defaults

In 2018 the default rate for borrower's at Western Michigan University was 5.62%, which represents 306 out of the 5447 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Western Michigan University received 16,582 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 6.31% annual decline. Out of those 16,582 applicants, 14,085 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 84.9% acceptance rate.

There were 19,887 students enrolled at Western Michigan University in 2020, and 67% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Michigan University has an overall enrollment yield of 18.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

84.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

14,085

Accepted Out of 16,582

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Michigan University was 84.9% (14,085 admissions from 16,582 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 79.9%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants declined by −6.31%, while admissions declined by −0.34%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Michigan University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

67%

Submission Percentage

1,737

Scores Submitted

67% of enrolled first-time students at Western Michigan University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Michigan University has a total enrollment of 19,887 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Michigan University is 14,215 students and the part-time enrollment is 5,672. This means that 71.5% of students enrolled at Western Michigan University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Michigan University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 67.8% White, 9.58% Black or African American, 7.28% Hispanic or Latino, 3.42% Two or More Races, 2.87% Asian, 0.397% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0704% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Michigan University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (34.6%), followed by White Female (34%) and Black or African American Female (5.67%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (50.5%), followed by White Male (19.8%) and Black or African American Female (5.22%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

71.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Michigan University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 19,887 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Michigan University is 14,215 and the part-time enrollment is 5,672. This means that 71.5% of students enrolled at Western Michigan University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.5% 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.

Retention Rate over Time

78%

2020 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 78%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (85%), 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.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
13,476
Black or African American
1,906
Hispanic or Latino
1,448

The enrolled student population at Western Michigan University is 67.8% White, 9.58% Black or African American, 7.28% Hispanic or Latino, 3.42% Two or More Races, 2.87% Asian, 0.397% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0704% 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 50% White, 15% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.69% 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, 317 students (1.59%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 459 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 (3,623 degrees awarded). There were 8.57 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (423 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Michigan University is Other Multidisciplinary Studies (222 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (129 degrees) and General Finance (127 degrees).

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 (126 degrees awarded), Engineering (473 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (258 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 (369,860 people), Other managers (346,246 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (317,707 people), Civil engineers (248,265 people), and Mechanical engineers (182,486 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Michigan University are Transportation (126 degrees awarded), Engineering (473 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (258 degrees), Public Administration and Social Service (217 degrees), and Philosophy and Religious Studies (35 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

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 Surgeons, Other financial specialists, Physicians, Aerospace engineers, and Aircraft pilots & flight engineers

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 (426,095 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (407,872 people), Construction (271,834 people), Elementary & secondary schools (243,040 people), and Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (241,573 people).

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

Other Multidisciplinary Studies
222 degree-majorss awarded
Registered Nursing
129 degree-majorss awarded
General Finance
127 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Michigan University was Other Multidisciplinary Studies with 222 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

2,376

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

2,835

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 2,376 degrees were awarded to men at Western Michigan University, which is 0.838 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,835).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 114 degrees were awarded to men at Western Michigan University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.78 times more than the 64 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 147 degrees were awarded to women at Western Michigan University in Social Work, which is 4.74 times more than the 31 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

23%

100% Completion Time

53%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 23% of students graduating from Western Michigan University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 53% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 56% 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (67.1%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Western Michigan University is Female and White (67.1% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

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, 0.594% of graduates (10 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
3,623 degrees awarded
Black or African American
423 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
279 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Michigan University is white (3,623 degrees awarded). There were 8.57 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (423 degrees).

0.768% of degree recipients (40 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Female
2,028 degrees awarded
White Male
1,595 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
281 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Michigan University is white female (2,028 degrees awarded). There were 1.27 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,595 degrees).

Operations

Western Michigan University has an endowment valued at nearly $401M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $10.8M (2.7%), compared to the 3.43% average return ($10.5M on $307M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2020, Western Michigan University had a total salary expenditure of $532M. Western Michigan University employs 303 Professors, 218 Associate professors, and 175 Assistant professors. Most academics at Western Michigan University are Male Professors (203), Female Assistant professors(113), and Male Associate professors (111).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Michigan University are: Service, with 279 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 211 employees, and Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 201 employees.

Endowment

$401M

2020 Endowment

1.56%

decline from 2019

Western Michigan University has an endowment valued at about $401M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Michigan University declined 1.56% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $94.6M 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.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$17.2M - Federal
$2.78M - State
$47.6k - Local

As of 2020, Western Michigan University received $17.2M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $2.78M from state grants and contracts, and $47.6k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$241M

2020 Salaries

2.1%

growth from 2019

In 2020, Western Michigan University paid a median of $241M in salaries, which represents 45.4% of their overall expenditure ($532M) and a 2.1% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 3.67% growth from 2018 and a 1.99% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 238M (42.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$69M

Instructional Salaries

752

Number of Employees

In 2020, Western Michigan University paid a total of $69M to 752 employees working as instructors, which represents 28.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $70.3M (29.6%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

303 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

279 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Michigan University were Professor with 303 employees; Associate professor with 218 employees; and Associate professor with 175 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Michigan University were Service with 279 employees; Office and Administrative Support with 211 employees; and Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 201 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Female Assistant professor
Male Associate professor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Michigan University was Male Professor with 203 employees, Female Assistant professor with 113 employees, and Male Associate professor with 111 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Western Michigan University.