Western Michigan University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Kalamazoo, Michigan
Net price / year
$15,273
after grants & scholarships
higher than 63% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
85%
Graduation rate
58%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 72% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$62,885
4 years after graduating
higher than 66% of public 4-year colleges
Western Michigan University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Western Michigan University?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $15,252 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $19,034 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Western Michigan University?
- The average cost of attendance is $29,237 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Western Michigan University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $15,273 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Western Michigan University?
- About 85% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is Western Michigan University test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
- What is the graduation rate at Western Michigan University?
- 58% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Western Michigan University earn?
- The median graduate earns $62,885 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.2 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $5,263 a year on average, versus $23,625 for families earning over $110,000.
- Pell Grant recipients completed within 150% of normal time at a rate of 47%, compared with 58% for all students, a gap of 11 points.
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services is the largest field of study here, at 28% of the degrees and certificates awarded.
- The school admits 85% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
Tuition and cost of attendance at Western Michigan University
Average net price (in-state)
$15,273 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Western Michigan University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$61,092
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $5,263
- $30–48k $5,734
- $48–75k $13,833
- $75–110k $18,307
- $110k+ $23,625
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $29,237
- Tuition & fees$15,252
- Books & supplies$1,128
- Room & board$12,174
- Other expenses$2,697
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $15,252
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $19,034
Western Michigan University acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Western Michigan University
Graduation rate
58%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
80%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$278
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
2.2 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.4×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 5.3%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 58%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $34,853 · median $53,562 · 75th percentile $76,786
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 8,314 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 8%
- Making progress 8%
- Not making progress 14%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 56%
- Deferment 12%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
8,314 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Western Michigan University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Science and Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $102,825 | 1 yr$86,4014 yrs$102,825 | U.S. median $102,121 U.S. middle half $82.9K–$117.3K · Above the U.S. median | $27,379 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 55 | $95,469 | 1 yr$76,1454 yrs$95,4695 yrs$97,447 | U.S. median $100,647 U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering Bachelor's · Graduates: 52 | $94,177 | 1 yr$69,5144 yrs$94,1775 yrs$100,965 | U.S. median $98,207 U.S. middle half $81.6K–$115.9K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $92,306 | 1 yr$74,6704 yrs$92,3065 yrs$82,100 | U.S. median $98,442 U.S. middle half $81.2K–$121.7K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 44 | $91,777 | 1 yr$68,6324 yrs$91,7775 yrs$83,294 | U.S. median $98,158 U.S. middle half $80.3K–$118K · Below the U.S. median | $27,758 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 59 | $90,876 | 1 yr$60,9794 yrs$90,8765 yrs$93,924 | U.S. median $107,009 U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 138 | $89,564 | 1 yr$34,8724 yrs$89,5645 yrs$77,215 | U.S. median $85,825 U.S. middle half $61.7K–$118.2K · Above the U.S. median | $25,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $88,746 | 1 yr$67,9924 yrs$88,7465 yrs$87,289 | U.S. median $89,619 U.S. middle half $71K–$110.2K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 131 | $87,477 | 1 yr$68,2604 yrs$87,4775 yrs$91,489 | U.S. median $92,135 U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Below the U.S. median | $29,000 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $84,622 | 1 yr$60,1534 yrs$84,6225 yrs$80,748 | U.S. median $71,753 U.S. middle half $56.8K–$86K · Above the U.S. median | $29,875 |
Show all 56 programs
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 180 | $83,449 | 1 yr$75,1494 yrs$83,4495 yrs$79,100 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Below the U.S. median | $25,500 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $82,740 | 1 yr$63,6654 yrs$82,7405 yrs$91,015 | U.S. median $80,890 U.S. middle half $61.2K–$99.3K · Above the U.S. median | $29,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 42 | $78,368 | 1 yr$69,7064 yrs$78,3685 yrs$80,962 | U.S. median $86,517 U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Below the U.S. median | $24,750 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Bachelor's · Graduates: 34 | $76,241 | 1 yr$47,2864 yrs$76,2415 yrs$77,085 | U.S. median $80,809 U.S. middle half $62.8K–$103.9K · Below the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 276 | $75,143 | 1 yr$55,6604 yrs$75,1435 yrs$73,821 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 61 | $74,566 | 1 yr$55,7704 yrs$74,5665 yrs$73,822 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Below the U.S. median | $29,646 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 150 | $72,353 | 1 yr$50,7874 yrs$72,3535 yrs$70,882 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 96 | $71,870 | 1 yr$48,1154 yrs$71,8705 yrs$58,556 | U.S. median $68,069 U.S. middle half $50.2K–$90.6K · Above the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 373 | $71,371 | 1 yr$53,0814 yrs$71,3715 yrs$70,079 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Above the U.S. median | $24,250 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 67 | $68,351 | 4 yrs$68,3515 yrs$74,993 | U.S. median $55,792 U.S. middle half $40K–$73.8K · Above the U.S. median | $25,745 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 154 | $66,666 | 1 yr$47,4644 yrs$66,6665 yrs$70,283 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $64,679 | 1 yr$28,0074 yrs$64,6795 yrs$54,153 | U.S. median $50,523 U.S. middle half $35.2K–$66.9K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 157 | $64,127 | 1 yr$37,7184 yrs$64,1275 yrs$57,951 | U.S. median $63,560 U.S. middle half $45.9K–$83.7K · Above the U.S. median | $25,146 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 125 | $59,249 | 1 yr$35,9554 yrs$59,2495 yrs$60,159 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $25,060 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $58,634 | 1 yr$39,0774 yrs$58,6345 yrs$67,581 | U.S. median $51,490 U.S. middle half $33K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $58,164 | — | U.S. median $60,190 U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 44 | $58,023 | 4 yrs$58,0235 yrs$60,685 | U.S. median $58,928 U.S. middle half $45K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $26,899 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 138 | $57,012 | 1 yr$39,6144 yrs$57,0125 yrs$57,991 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $25,033 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $56,487 | 4 yrs$56,4875 yrs$47,449 | U.S. median $57,640 U.S. middle half $40.6K–$75.9K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $56,449 | 4 yrs$56,4495 yrs$51,000 | U.S. median $55,753 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$68.4K · Above the U.S. median | $23,442 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 54 | $54,840 | 1 yr$38,7444 yrs$54,8405 yrs$54,046 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $24,250 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 260 | $54,597 | 1 yr$38,7544 yrs$54,5975 yrs$45,373 | U.S. median $55,693 U.S. middle half $40.3K–$72.2K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 188 | $54,265 | 1 yr$35,0244 yrs$54,2655 yrs$57,666 | U.S. median $58,716 U.S. middle half $41.9K–$80.4K · Below the U.S. median | $26,060 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $51,835 | 1 yr$35,3994 yrs$51,8355 yrs$58,151 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Below the U.S. median | $24,449 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 64 | $51,446 | 1 yr$31,1694 yrs$51,4465 yrs$46,081 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Below the U.S. median | $23,362 |
| Special Education and Teaching Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $50,665 | 1 yr$47,8684 yrs$50,6655 yrs$49,952 | U.S. median $50,499 U.S. middle half $41.4K–$60.1K · Above the U.S. median | $31,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 78 | $50,655 | 1 yr$28,8904 yrs$50,6555 yrs$50,201 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 123 | $50,134 | 1 yr$26,6764 yrs$50,1345 yrs$57,472 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $23,375 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $49,921 | 4 yrs$49,9215 yrs$47,993 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Below the U.S. median | $22,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 133 | $49,850 | 1 yr$37,2054 yrs$49,8505 yrs$54,064 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Below the U.S. median | $26,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 95 | $49,340 | 1 yr$42,4684 yrs$49,3405 yrs$49,919 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Below the U.S. median | $27,506 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 135 | $49,286 | 1 yr$35,2094 yrs$49,2865 yrs$42,827 | U.S. median $48,568 U.S. middle half $35.1K–$62.7K · Above the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $48,065 | 4 yrs$48,0655 yrs$49,798 | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 61 | $47,898 | 1 yr$41,2964 yrs$47,8985 yrs$45,552 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Above the U.S. median | $30,750 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $46,909 | 1 yr$27,0874 yrs$46,909 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $29,000 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $46,543 | 1 yr$28,7654 yrs$46,543 | U.S. median $59,631 U.S. middle half $42.1K–$78K · Below the U.S. median | $24,885 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts Bachelor's · Graduates: 63 | $45,391 | 1 yr$26,5024 yrs$45,3915 yrs$42,211 | U.S. median $43,765 U.S. middle half $26K–$63.4K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $45,108 | 1 yr$21,5404 yrs$45,1085 yrs$25,211 | U.S. median $39,980 U.S. middle half $24.9K–$57.3K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's · Graduates: 82 | $44,694 | 1 yr$21,5854 yrs$44,6945 yrs$27,085 | U.S. median $39,775 U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Above the U.S. median | $26,731 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $43,628 | 4 yrs$43,6285 yrs$40,673 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $41,490 | 1 yr$22,6704 yrs$41,490 | U.S. median $46,676 U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Below the U.S. median | $29,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $40,792 | 1 yr$21,4684 yrs$40,7925 yrs$38,111 | U.S. median $48,471 U.S. middle half $32.2K–$67.3K · Below the U.S. median | $24,007 |
| International/Globalization Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $40,663 | 1 yr$32,1474 yrs$40,6635 yrs$54,564 | U.S. median $59,972 U.S. middle half $40.8K–$82.9K · Below the U.S. median | $26,687 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $37,013 | 1 yr$32,6304 yrs$37,0135 yrs$49,620 | U.S. median $55,000 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $36,615 | 1 yr$21,7734 yrs$36,615 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 65 | $36,254 | 1 yr$24,7754 yrs$36,2545 yrs$35,347 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 68.1%
- Black or African American 8.2%
- Hispanic or Latino 9.3%
- Asian 2.9%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
- Two or more races 4.8%
- U.S. nonresident 4.1%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 2.3%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 48.4%
- Women 51.6%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
9%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 12,568
- Part-time students
- 13%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 27%
- Receive federal loans
- 47%
- Students per faculty member
- 16 : 1
- Setting
- City
Similar colleges
Schools of a similar type, price, size and outcomes.
-
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
Net price $15,407Earnings $59,616
-
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
Net price $17,597Earnings $61,298
-
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
Net price $16,317Earnings $60,491
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
Net price $12,766Earnings $68,551
-
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL
Net price $13,391Earnings $64,583
-
Morgan State University
Baltimore, MD
Net price $14,985Earnings $62,308
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in Michigan
In Michigan
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Western Michigan University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Western Michigan University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $15,252 for in-state students and $19,034 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Western Michigan University?
The average cost of attendance at Western Michigan University is $29,237 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $15,273 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Western Michigan University get?
27% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 47% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $5,263 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $23,625 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Western Michigan University?
Western Michigan University admitted about 85% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Western Michigan University?
58% of first-time, full-time students at Western Michigan University finish within 150% of normal time. 80% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Western Michigan University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $62,885 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $43,987.
Is Western Michigan University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Western Michigan University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.2 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $26,188, about 0.4 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 58% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do Western Michigan University graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $26,188, or about $278 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things