Western Michigan University

About Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University (WMU) has roots going back to the beginning of the twentieth century. The university believes students are unique individuals and celebrates the passions and possibilities that drive and inspire them. At Western, a degree involves empowered learning and an Experience-Driven education that equips students for meaningful careers.

Western offers international students a wide range of study options across 8 colleges, each of which offers programs that are uniquely designed to help students thrive academically and professionally. Students can also enroll in interdisciplinary programs that combine the strengths of various colleges and disciplines to prepare students to tackle complex problems and collaborate in an interconnected world.

Western Michigan University strives to embrace diversity and multiculturalism and is committed to building an inclusive and engaging environment for each student to feel included, celebrated, and successful. The Office of Student Engagement works to engage students in programs outside the classroom and empowers student organizations to enhance learning and development. There are close to 400 registered student organizations at Western representing a diverse and dynamic student body.

The university’s main campus in Kalamazoo has the advantage of being perfectly located in a classic college town, nestled perfectly between the cities of Chicago and Detroit and just about an hour away from the Lake Michigan shoreline. Students can visit the city’s museums, galleries, theaters, live music venues and eateries. There are also numerous public lakes and many miles of trails for biking and cross-country skiing.

Graduate outcomes

WMU graduates are highly sought-after by employers, with 9 out 10 students reporting they are employed quickly, working in their field in jobs they like (WMU Career Outcomes Report, 2024).

Of these, 95 percent of graduates working full time report having a job related to their degree (WMU Career Outcomes Report, 2024). Recent WMU graduates enjoy higher annual earnings, with reporting a median salary of between USD 60,000 and 70,000 per year for those working full time (WMU Career Outcomes Report, 2024).

Study programs are designed to ensure students graduate with practical experience and the skills employers value in the modern workplace. In 2024, 93 percent of students participated in Experience-Driven Learning. WMU Career Outcomes Report, 2024).

Career support

Through its Career and Student Employment Services, WMU offers extensive career support to its students and alumni, including:

• Tailored careers coaching from expert career development specialists
• Opportunities to meet industry professionals and build a professional network
• Opportunities to develop workplace skills both within and outside of course curricula
• Practice interviews tailored to cover over 140 industries
• Assistance with job searches, resumes, and applications
• Free professional headshots

Students can also make use of the WMU Career Academy, a series of four careers workshops designed to make students stand out to potential employers. The University also runs regular job fairs and provides online resources to further assist students looking to improve their career opportunities.

WMU students benefit from access to Handshake, an online jobs platform where students have access to over 30,000 jobs and 4,000 internships directly related to the majors offered at the university.

What's new

Campus infrastructure

WMU is constantly investing in its facilities and infrastructure on campus to improve the overall student experience.

• Golden Oaks: A brand-new Golden Oaks residence hall is set to open in Goldsworth Valley in the fall of 2026. This state-of-the-art building will accommodate over 1,000 students in modern rooms with dynamic and versatile communal spaces.
• West Michigan Avenue redevelopment: A stretch of this area on WMU’s main campus will be entirely redeveloped into a sustainable outdoor space and pedestrian mall. This area will include wide walkways, communal seating areas and green landscaping.
• Rewilding: Old, unused spaces on campus are being rebuilt and reused as areas for nature and green spaces.

Rankings

In the 2025 US News & World Report, WMU ranked 158^th place for top public schools nationally. It also ranked in the top 100 for graduate programs in five fields:

• Audiology
• Occupational therapy
• Social work
• Speech-language pathology
• Statistics