Western Michigan University College Portrait
Western Michigan University1903 West Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5167
(269) 387-3530
Western Michigan University
We're delighted that you are exploring the possibilities at Western Michigan University. We're one of the nation's top public research universities, but we've made a commitment to retaining the small college feel that has long been our hallmark. In career fields as diverse as aviation, jazz studies, engineering, education, creative writing, and biology, our students know their WMU credentials will win favor with both employers and the nation's top graduate schools. Our students grow socially as well, as they take advantage of the thousands of opportunities for recreation, entertainment and professional development found on campus, in culturally rich Kalamazoo and throughout this beautiful region of the country.
Living in the Broncos Community
WMU's Division of Student Affairs engages students in learning and personal growth in and out of the classroom and helps guide the development of students into responsible citizens and future leaders. It also supports and challenges students by sponsoring more than 300 student organizations, intramural and club sports, and recreation and fitness classes, each of which helps students engage in campus life and to become active members of the WMU community. All of the programs and services within the division are intentionally designed to support the academic mission of the University, and to create and sustain optimal learning environments. For instance, the Center for Academic Support Programs enhances teaching and promotes student learning through collaborative, effective research-based programs that include supplemental instruction, content tutoring, college success seminars, effective reading seminars, advising services for undeclared majors, and one-to-one writing instruction with a writing consultant.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 25,045 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 19,966 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 9,804 | 49% |
| Men | 10,162 | 51% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 77 | <1% |
| Asian | 286 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 1,622 | 8% |
| Hispanic | 812 | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 26 | <1% |
| White | 15,676 | 79% |
| Two or More Races | 509 | 3% |
| International | 647 | 3% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 311 | 2% |
| Where do WMU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 91% |
| Other US States & Territories | 7% |
| Other Countries | 3% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are WMU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 12% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT |
|---|---|
| Composite | 20 - 25 |
| Math | 18 - 25 |
| English | 19 - 25 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 36% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 73% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 78% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.28 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,315
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Western Michigan University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 33% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $4,800. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 57% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $1,200. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
WMU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 19 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 69% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 89% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 917 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 41% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 17% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 78% |
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Campus-based Housing
88% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
26% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
The Western Michigan University Police are committed to providing a safe and secure environment conducive to the education of our students by protecting life and property; by the investigation and prevention of crime; and by providing assistance to all persons in need, in a manner that promotes confidence in our department throughout our diverse campus community. We are dedicated to providing a quality work environment, developing our members through training and leadership, and promoting the affirmative action goals of the University.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral (no medical/veterinary)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at WMU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 92% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 55% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 24% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 86% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 18% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 49% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 60% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 12% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 95% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 95% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 61% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 52% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 93% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 53% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 74% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 94% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 64% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 63% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 84% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 48% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 80% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 83% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 82% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Western Michigan University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,820 |
| Master's | 1,334 |
| Doctoral | 110 |
| Total | 5,264 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 24% |
| EDUCATION | 13% |
| HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 8% |
| ENGINEERING | 6% |
| COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 6% |
| Links to degree programs at Western Michigan University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Future Plans of Spring 2010 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 83% four-year success and progress rate means that 83% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 3,731 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,360 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 76%
More Information
Student Learning at Western Michigan University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
At the institutional level, the University Assessment Steering Committee (UASC) serves as WMU’s universitywide assessment policy, planning, and resource coordination group. UASC membership consists of students, faculty, and administrative representatives from Extended University Programs, the academic colleges, the Division of Student Affairs, and student organizations. At the programmatic level, individual academic deans of colleges, academic departments, and the vice president for student affairs are responsible for the design, implementation, and operation of specific academic and co-curricular assessment programs. Each college and division having assessment plans reports annually to the provost on the measurement of student learning outcomes for ongoing program improvement. The report identifies program goals and objectives and instrumentation for measuring goals and objectives; describes the data collected; describes major findings and how they were used for student learning and program improvements; and lists changes to the departmental-level plans.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2009-10 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1137
Senior Score: 1242
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1121
Senior Score: 1128
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1180
Senior Score: 1305
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1121
Senior Score: 1128