Western Michigan University

https://wmich.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$15,198

4.65% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$20,183

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

84.7%

20,100 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

16,693

74.2% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

57.8%

1,810 Graduates

About

Western Michigan University is a higher education institution located in Kalamazoo County, MI. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Michigan University were General Finance (215 degrees awarded), General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology (207 degrees), and Accounting (177 degrees).

In 2023, 4,743 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Michigan University. 56.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 43.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,027 degrees), 8.27 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (366 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Michigan University is $15,198, which is $−15,805 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Michigan University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 4,869 total borrowers.

Photo by Daniel X. O'Neil

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Michigan University is $15,198, which is $15,806 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $20,183.

In 2023, 67% of undergraduate students attending Western Michigan University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 48% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$15,198

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Western Michigan University was $15,198. The cost of tuition at Western Michigan University is $−15,806 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,004).

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

Average Net Price

$20,183

2023 Value

0.764%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Western Michigan University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,183. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Western Michigan University grew by 0.764%.

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

$11,102

Room and Board

$1,128

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Michigan University was of $11,102 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 2% between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,128. The cost of books and supplies increased by 1.99% 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

67%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

48%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

67% of undergraduate students at Western Michigan University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 28.7% with respect to 2022, when 94% 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.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Michigan University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 4869 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 20,100 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 1.96% annual growth. Out of those 20,100 applicants, 17,020 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 84.7% acceptance rate.

There were 16,693 students enrolled at Western Michigan University in 2023. 58% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Michigan University has an overall enrollment yield of 14.5%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

84.7%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

17,020

Accepted Out of 20,100

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Michigan University was 84.7% (17,020 admissions from 20,100 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 84.6%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 1.96%, while admissions declined by 1.81%.

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.

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.

Enrollment

Western Michigan University had a total enrollment of 16,693 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Western Michigan University is 12,381 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,312. This means that 74.2% of students enrolled at Western Michigan University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Michigan University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 66.8% White, 8.35% Hispanic or Latino, 7.73% Black or African American, 3.75% Two or More Races, 3.13% Asian, 0.443% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0539% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Michigan University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (35.4%), followed by White Male (34.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.63%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (42.7%), followed by White Male (16.5%) and Black or African American Female (4.69%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

74.2%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Michigan University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 16,693 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Michigan University is 12,381 and the part-time enrollment is 4,312. This means that 74.2% of students enrolled at Western Michigan University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.9% 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

80%

2023 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 80%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), 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 (2023)

White
11,146 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,394 enrolled students
Black or African American
1,290 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Michigan University is 66.8% White, 8.35% Hispanic or Latino, 7.73% Black or African American, 3.75% Two or More Races, 3.13% Asian, 0.443% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0539% 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 46.5% White, 15.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.78% 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, 379 students (2.27%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 615 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 (3,027 degrees awarded). There were 8.27 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (366 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Michigan University is General Finance (215 degrees awarded), followed by General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology (207 degrees) and Accounting (177 degrees).

In 2023, 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 (207 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (277 degrees), and Engineering (350 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

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 Elementary & middle school teachers (1,529,460 people), Secondary school teachers (516,979 people), Software developers (485,627 people), Other managers (427,298 people), and Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (362,894 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Michigan University in 2023 are Transportation (207 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (277 degrees), Engineering (350 degrees), Education (503 degrees), and Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (111 degrees) (as of 2023).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

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 Podiatrists, Surgeons, Physicians, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Chief executives & legislators

The most specialized majors at Western Michigan University are Transportation (207 degrees awarded), Interdisciplinary Studies (277 degrees), Engineering (350 degrees), Education (503 degrees), and Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (111 degrees) (as of 2023).

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 (545,359 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (466,025 people), Elementary & secondary schools (419,632 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (355,433 people), and Construction (350,653 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 (2023)

General Finance
215 degrees awarded
General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology
207 degrees awarded
Accounting
177 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Michigan University was General Finance with 215 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

2,064

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2023

2,679

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 2,064 degrees were awarded to men at Western Michigan University, which is 0.77 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,679).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 174 degrees were awarded to men at Western Michigan University in General Aeronautics & Aerospace Science & Technology, which is 5.27 times more than the 33 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 116 degrees were awarded to men at Western Michigan University in Accounting, which is 1.47 times more than the 79 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

28%

100% Completion Time

56%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 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, 56% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 59% 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.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (76.7%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Western Michigan University is Female and Asian (76.7% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

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, 0.276% of graduates (5 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
3,027 degrees awarded
Black or African American
366 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
277 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Michigan University is white (3,027 degrees awarded). There were 8.27 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (366 degrees).

1.31% of degree recipients (62 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
1,746 degrees awarded
White Male
1,281 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
212 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Michigan University is white female (1,746 degrees awarded). There were 1.36 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,281 degrees).

Operations

Western Michigan University has an endowment valued at nearly $634M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 23.5M (3.71%) compared to the 4.37% average return (19M on 434M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2023, Western Michigan University had a total salary expenditure of 505M. Western Michigan University employs 290 Professors, 219 Associate professors and 158 Assistant professors. Most academics at Western Michigan University are Male Professor (190), Male Associate professor (111), and Female Associate professor (108).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Michigan University are: Service, with 275 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 245 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 213 employees.

Endowment

$634M

2023 Endowment

13.7%

growth from 2022

Western Michigan University has an endowment valued at about $634M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Michigan University grew 13.7% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $200M 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

$21.4M - Federal
$3.66M - State
$70.8k - Local

As of 2023, Western Michigan University received $21.4M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $3.66M from state grants and contracts, and $70.8k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$208M

2023 Salaries

4.42%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Western Michigan University paid a median of $208M in salaries, which represents 41.2% of their overall expenditure ($505M) and a 4.42% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 3.7% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 20.3% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 246M (41.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$71.7M

Instructional Salaries

743

Number of Employees

In 2023, Western Michigan University paid a total of $71.7M to 743 employees working as instructors, which represents 34.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $6.13M (2.35%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

290 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

275 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Michigan University were Professor with 290 employees, Associate professor with 219 employees, and Assistant professor with 158 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Michigan University were Service with 275 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 245 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 213 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Associate professor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Michigan University was Male Professor with 190 employees, Male Associate professor with 111 employees, and Female Associate professor with 108 employees.

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

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