Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan. 12,568 undergraduates. Admits 85% of applicants.

Michigan colleges Official websiteIts net price calculator
59%Graduation rate4 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$13,902Average net price per year30% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$57,828Median earnings 10 years after startingAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
$25,000Median debt at graduation16% above the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($25,000) equals 43% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($57,828).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$5,317
$30,000–$48,000$5,256
$48,001–$75,000$10,093
$75,001–$110,000$15,678
Over $110,000$23,166

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $15,954 in-state, $19,908 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate59%54%
Return for second year81%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$49,938$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$57,828$58,912
Median debt at graduation$25,000$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

204 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Engineering19$77,069$103,925—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering33$75,363$102,041$31,000
Computer Science42$67,050$101,743$26,500
Air Transportation266$45,056$99,318$26,125
Chemical Engineering41$76,468$96,524$27,500
Industrial Engineering17$79,387$94,386—
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians17$74,836$93,627$18,750
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering58$73,384$92,925$27,000
Mechanical Engineering49$77,862$92,691$31,000
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians12$66,254$92,501$31,000
Civil Engineering26$72,978$88,963$28,452
Paper Science and Engineering16$87,930—$17,035
Computer and Information Sciences, General14$52,510$86,991$28,000
Engineering-Related Fields10—$86,647—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing97$78,518$82,733$28,000
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians0—$82,663—
Business Administration, Management and Operations202$65,519$81,613$27,000
Marketing204$56,597$77,257$25,000
Finance and Financial Management Services216$55,156$76,851$23,250
Accounting and Related Services171$58,100$75,311$24,635
Human Resources Management and Services38$52,356$74,119$26,000
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication34$46,467$66,983$25,781
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods0$66,570——
Biology, General104$39,855$65,468$25,751
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences14—$64,971—
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology24$34,146$62,932$20,000
Health and Medical Administrative Services3$36,745$60,800—
Geography and Cartography6$37,587$60,194—
Political Science and Government35$42,577$59,870$26,000
Design and Applied Arts57$39,817$59,022$27,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services32—$58,145$26,000
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services7—$56,858$27,000
Sociology10$39,938$56,813—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions18—$56,261—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness103$34,132$55,613$26,000
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other153$47,625$55,269$31,000
Social Work65$35,351$54,732$27,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics28$42,840$54,678$26,625
Dance27$24,646$53,682$27,000
Criminal Justice and Corrections60$39,223$53,612$27,000
International/Globalization Studies14$38,196$53,211—
Apparel and Textiles0—$53,123—
Special Education and Teaching16$49,593$52,870$31,000
Psychology, General141$35,715$52,798$25,000
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations20$41,518$52,100$25,750
Communication and Media Studies49$39,027$51,339$24,232
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas116$47,092$50,109$29,000
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft38$33,073$49,950$25,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services36$38,947$48,910$27,729
History13—$47,561$26,250
Film/Video and Photographic Arts24$32,157$47,439$23,250
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods71$45,368$46,214$31,000
Fine and Studio Arts33$31,698$44,636$29,802
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General30$44,452—$31,000
Music42$31,341$44,287$28,000
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations14$40,923——
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies29$31,068$39,306$27,000
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions33$38,481—$27,000
English Language and Literature, General21—$38,261$27,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research19$38,227—$27,000
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology5$38,145——
Food Science and Technology1———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies3———
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication12———
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management5———
Education, Other29——$31,125
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics6———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics5———
Legal Professions and Studies, Other15——$27,000
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology12———
Mathematics5———
Applied Mathematics4———
Mathematics and Computer Science9———
Environmental Geosciences2———
Geography and Environmental Studies7———
Data Analytics31——$18,500
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies1———
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management2———
Philosophy8———
Religion/Religious Studies1———
Chemistry9———
Physics1———
Research and Experimental Psychology3———
Anthropology16———
Economics15———
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management4———
Public Health8———
Medical Illustration and Informatics1———
Management Information Systems and Services1———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

85%Admission rate
16:1Students per faculty member
32%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

Similar colleges in Michigan

Albion CollegeAlbion · net price $14,673 · grad rate 57%Madonna UniversityLivonia · net price $14,792 · grad rate 54%Northern Michigan UniversityMarquette · net price $12,759 · grad rate 54%Oakland UniversityRochester Hills · net price $11,815 · grad rate 58%Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton · net price $13,446 · grad rate 70%Wayne State UniversityDetroit · net price $11,212 · grad rate 60%

Compare colleges side by side

Quick answers

How much does Western Michigan University cost per year?
The average net price at Western Michigan University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $13,902 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Western Michigan University graduates earn?
Former Western Michigan University students earn a median of $57,828 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Western Michigan University?
59% of Western Michigan University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Western Michigan University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Western Michigan University is $25,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.