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Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University says yes to 84.6% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $53,562 median earnings.
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Western Michigan University sits in Kalamazoo proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Paper Science and Engineering, where graduates median $102,825 four years out. 26.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 12,568 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 81.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 990 and 1220 — near the MI middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Western Michigan University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Western Michigan University received 20,100 applications and admitted 17,020 (84.7%), with 2,472 enrolling.
You can apply to Western Michigan University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 990 and 1220; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 560 | 620 |
| SAT Math | 490 | 540 | 600 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 24 | 27 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Western Michigan University compares
| Western Michigan University | Michigan median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 84.6% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $15,252 | $24,944 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $53,562 | $54,739 | $53,781 |
At $53,562, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($54,739). Look at Western Michigan University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $15,252 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $19,034. For non-residents, Western Michigan University's $19,034 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 12,568 undergrads, Western Michigan University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
57.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 42% don't — ask a Western Michigan University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Western Michigan University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Paper Science and Engineering | $102,825 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $95,469 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $94,177 |
| Industrial Engineering | $92,306 |
| Chemical Engineering | $91,777 |
| Computer Science | $90,876 |
| Air Transportation | $89,564 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $88,746 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,477 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $84,622 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,449 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $82,740 |
| Civil Engineering | $78,368 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $76,241 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $75,143 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $74,566 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $72,353 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $71,870 |
| Marketing | $71,371 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $68,351 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $66,666 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $64,679 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $64,127 |
| Biology, General | $59,249 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $58,634 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $58,164 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $58,023 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,012 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $56,487 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $56,449 |
| Political Science and Government | $54,840 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $54,597 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $54,265 |
| Sociology | $51,835 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,446 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $50,665 |
| Psychology, General | $50,655 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $50,134 |
| Geography and Cartography | $49,921 |
| Social Work | $49,850 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $49,340 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $49,286 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $48,065 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $47,898 |
| History | $46,909 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $46,543 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $45,391 |
| Dance | $45,108 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $44,694 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $43,628 |
| Anthropology | $41,490 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $40,792 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $40,663 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $37,013 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $36,615 |
| Music | $36,254 |
Median earnings for these 56 Western Michigan University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $53,562 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 43 additional Western Michigan University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Western Michigan University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 990–1220 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 84.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Western Michigan University's acceptance rate?
84.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 17,020 admitted from 20,100 applicants.
How much does Western Michigan University cost?
In-state tuition is $15,252; out-of-state students pay $19,034. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Western Michigan University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $53,562 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Michigan
- Wayne State University — 81.2% admitted
- Siena Heights University — 68.9% admitted
- Saginaw Valley State University — 72.1% admitted
- Kuyper College — 69.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.