Brief History of Western Michigan University
The foundation of Western Michigan University dates back to 1903 when Governor Aaron Bliss signed a bill establishing the Western State Normal School in the state with a two-year training program. The first class started in 1904 with an enrollment of 107 students. Before Western Michigan University’s name was officially settled in 1957, a series of name changes took place in the first five decades – Western State Teachers College (1927), Michigan College of Education (1941), and Western Michigan College (1955).
Education at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University acceptance rate is 84.9% and the institute offers more than 150 undergraduate and over 110-degree programs across 12 colleges. Here is a list of the colleges at the university that offers a host of courses.
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- College of Aviation
- College of Fine Arts
- College of Education and Human Development
- College of Health and Human services
- Haworth College of Business
- Graduate College
- Lee Honors College
- Home Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Merze Tate College
The university boasts academic excellence and faculties help you reach your goals while encouraging experiential learning.
USP of Western Michigan University
While Western Michigan University is recognized for imparting world-class education, the institution not just believes in focusing on the academic excellence of its students but also ensures the wellness of its students. To help students thrive and prosper, WMU prepares students for a life well-lived, and this holistic approach starts with looking after their mental well-being.
- A platform named YOU helps students who are struggling to make new friends on the campus or going through some mental or physical problems.
- An application named WellTrack assists the WMU community in identifying stressors, tracking their mood over time, learning about strategies to manage feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression, and scheduling self-care activities.
Career Opportunities at Western Michigan University
According to Western Michigan University’s career outcomes, 93% of students from the 2020-2021 batch were suggested to be employed or continuing education. Out of this 93%, 74% students were engaged in full-time employment, 3% in part-time jobs, less than 1% in military and full-time volunteer service, and around 16% went for further education. The median starting salary of an WMU graduate per year is approximately around $45,000 (INR 33.60 lakhs) to $50,000 (INR 37.33 lakhs) based on 1,061 reported salaries. The university also collaborates with organizations to offer internship and job opportunities to students across various profiles such as:
- Physical Therapist
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Information Security Analyst
- Financial Advisor
- DevOps Engineer
- Petroleum Engineer
- Product Manager
- Data Scientist
Famous Alumni of Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University has a stand-out list of notable names who have called the campus their home, including athletes, singers, celebrities, etc. Just to name a few, some of the notable alumni of WMU are as follows:
- Terry Crews – NFL all-conference MAC player and actor
- Brooke Elliott – Star of Lifetime Television Network show Drop Dead Diva
- Tim Allen – Actor and comedian
- Luther Vandross – Singer, songwriter and record producer
- Corey Davis – Highest drafted NFL player in WMU history
- Rashida Tlaib – U.S. Representative and former Michigan State representative
Western Michigan University: Address
The address of Western Michigan University is 1903 W Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, United States. It is located midway between Detroit and Chicago.
Type of University
The Western Michigan University is a public institution. In 2021, WMU made news by receiving the largest ever funding received by a public higher education institution of half-billion dollars. This gift came from the Western Michigan University alumni who contributed to the WMU Foundation and earmarked this record-breaking contribution.
QS World University Rankings and Other Rankings
With a student-faculty ratio of 16, the Western Michigan University was ranked between 1001-1200 by the QS World University Rankings 2022. According to the US News and World Report, Western Michigan University ranking in terms of national universities is #263 for the 2022 edition of Best Colleges. It bagged the 139th rank in Top Performers on Social Mobility and 132nd position in Top Public Schools. As per the Times Higher Education rankings, the university was placed at 501-600th position on the US College Rankings 2022.
Top Courses Offered by the Western Michigan University
Graduate students interested in seeking a career in the health sector can enroll in highly ranked programs that aim to train speech-language pathologists, rehabilitation counselors, physician assistants and audiologists. Many programs of Western Michigan University have gained a national or international reputation as they have ranked among the top of their kind in the country. Therefore, making it one of the best places to study in fields as varied as engineering management technology, aviation flight science, geology, experimental atomic physics, occupational therapy, integrated supply management, paper engineering, psychology, speech pathology and sales and business marketing. Listed below are some of the top offered courses by the Western Michigan University.
- BS in Public Health
- BS in Occupational Therapy
- BBA in Marketing
- BSE Mechanical Engineering
- MS in Industrial Engineering
- MS in Aerospace Engineering
- BSE Certificate course in Paper Engineering
- BS in Physical and Health Education Teacher Education
- MS in Nutrition and Dietetics
The Western Michigan University fees for graduate programs is calculated by adding up the tuition+fees which vary as per the residential status and semester credits. Here’s a breakdown of the tuition fees for fall 2021 and spring 2022.
Tuition
Resident |
Non-resident |
Online |
| $703.48 (INR 52,486) per credit hour |
$1,055.22 (INR 78,729) per credit hour |
$703.48 (INR 52,486) per credit hour |
Fees
Semester credits |
Enrollment |
Assessment |
Sustainability |
Total |
| 1-4 |
$208.50 (INR 15,568) |
$42.00 (INR 3,316) |
$8.00 (INR 597) |
$258.50 (INR 19,302) per semester |
| 5+ |
$411.50 (INR 30,726) |
$42.00 (INR 3,316) |
$8.00 (INR 597) |
$461.50 (INR 34,454) per semester |
Required Exams and Admission Requirements for Western Michigan University
A student seeking Western Michigan University admission does not have to mandatorily submit the standardized test score since WMU adopted a “test-optional” policy. However, if a student wishes to submit the SAT/ACT score, they need to self-report their scores on the admission application. Here are a few more Western Michigan University requirements that a student needs to fulfill.
- Official High School Transcript which has a record of the grade and courses a student has taken. If a student’s high school is not offering an official transcript, they can scan and submit an unofficial transcript for an admission decision.
- So that a student can handle the rigours of college-level work, the University recommends its students to have:
- 3-4 years of math (through second-year algebra or pre-calculus)
- 4 years of English
- 2 years of the same foreign language
- 3 years of natural sciences (two or more with a lab component)
Available Scholarships in Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University intends to reduce the burden of tuition fees on students and has various scholarships which are as follows. However, students need to meet a certain eligibility criteria to get these scholarships.
| Scholarship |
Eligibility Criteria |
| Medallion Scholarship Program |
Students are selected for this scholarship through a holistic and competitive review of the admission application. An interview is conducted in which 60 semifinalists are selected, out of which 20 students get the scholarship. |
| Foundation Scholars |
3.70 GPA at the time of admission and verified proof of significant financial need |
| Bronco Merit |
3.85 GPA at the time of admission |
| Bronco Recognition |
3.00 GPA at the time of admission |
| Bronco Honors |
3.60 GPA at the time of admission |
Placements at Western Michigan University
9 out of 10 students at Western Michigan University reported being employed quickly and of working in jobs they like. Some of organizations that hire graduates from WMU are as follows:
- Bronson
- PwC
- Amazon
- Ascension
- Advia Credit Union
- Ford Motor Company
- Kellogg’s
- Pfizer
- Zoetis
- Bethany Christian Services
- F.C.A – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
- Greenleaf Trust
