Western Michigan acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Western Michigan University · Public · Kalamazoo, MI · 13,026 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Western Michigan admitted 84.7% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 82.8% in 2013. Michigan residents pay $15,954 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $19,908.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 82.8% | 14,621 | 12,113 |
| 2014 | 84.1% | 14,008 | 11,775 |
| 2015 | 82.4% | 15,175 | 12,501 |
| 2016 | 82.3% | 13,613 | 11,205 |
| 2017 | 82.3% | 14,263 | 11,741 |
| 2018 | 81.1% | 17,051 | 13,829 |
| 2019 | 79.9% | 17,698 | 14,133 |
| 2020 | 84.9% | 16,582 | 14,085 |
| 2021 | 82.8% | 18,853 | 15,612 |
| 2022 | 84.6% | 20,501 | 17,334 |
| 2023 | 84.7% | 20,100 | 17,020 |
Applications went from 14,621 in fall 2013 to 20,100 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $5,317 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $5,256 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $10,093 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,678 |
| Over $110,000 | $23,166 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $15,954 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $19,908 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $30,098 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $13,902 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 58% submitted the SAT, 6% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan State MI | 83.9% | $17,256 in-state |
| Wayne State MI | 82.0% | $15,862 in-state |
| Eastern Michigan MI | 81.3% | $17,004 same for all |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Western Michigan reported an admit rate of 84.7% for fall 2023, with 17,020 admitted from 20,100 applicants.1 That is close to the 82.8% of fall 2013, an increase of 1.9 percentage points over the decade.1 Year to year the rate declined 5 times in 10 changes, with a low of 79.9% in fall 2019.1 Applications grew 37% and admissions grew 41%, so both counts moved at a similar speed.1
Test scores are optional. About 58% of entrants submitted SAT scores, with a middle 50% of 500 to 620 in reading and writing and 490 to 600 in math, and 6% submitted ACT scores.1
WMU lists tuition and fees of $15,954 for Michigan residents and $19,908 for nonresidents in 2025-26.2 The in-state price is above the $15,872 median of the 15 public bachelor's colleges in Michigan.2 Net price rises with income: $5,317 for families earning $0 to $30,000, $10,093 for $48,001 to $75,000, and $23,166 for those earning over $110,000 (2024-25).2
The graduation rate within 6 years was 59% for 2019 entrants, equal to the 59% median across 42 Michigan colleges, and retention was 81%.2 Graduates of WMU show median earnings of $57,828 at 10 years after entry, alongside a $25,000 median federal debt for borrowers.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 20,100 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 17,020 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 2,472 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 13,026 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 500 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 620 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 490 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 20 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 27 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 58% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 6% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $15,954 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $19,908 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $30,098 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $13,902 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $5,317 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $5,256 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $10,093 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,678 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $23,166 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 59% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 81% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 32% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $57,828 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $25,000 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Michigan (N = 15) | $15,872 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Michigan (N = 42) | 59% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Western Michigan, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page