Wayne State vs Western Michigan University (WMU)
Wayne State University and Western Michigan University, both esteemed institutions in Michigan, offer distinct educational experiences. Wayne State, located in the heart of Detroit, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on urban studies, while Western Michigan, situated in Kalamazoo, excels in aviation and health sciences. With acceptance rates of 79% and 80% respectively, both universities welcome a substantial number of applicants. While Wayne State's student body is more diverse, with 44% of students identifying as minorities, Western Michigan's student body is slightly larger, with an enrollment of over 23,000 students. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the university that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Wayne State University |
![]() Western Michigan University |
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Overview |
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Location | Detroit, Michigan | Kalamazoo, Michigan |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 81.0% | 77.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 63.3% | 82.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$50
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1030 - 1260 | 1000 - 1220 |
ACT range | 22 - 28 | 21 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 48.0% | 37.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 7.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 15,181 | 18,853 |
Total number of admissions given out | 9,603 | 15,612 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,732 | 2,112 |
Yield rate | 28.4% | 13.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$32,193
Out of state:
$48,163
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In state:
$27,947
Out of state:
$31,281
|
Average net price | $15,710 | $19,749 |
Tuition |
In state:
$12,376
Out of state:
$28,346
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In state:
$13,334
Out of state:
$16,668
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,463
Meal plan:
$4,280
|
$10,884 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $10,091 |
95.0%
Average amount $6,352 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
38.0%
Average amount $4,807 |
49.0%
Average amount $5,188 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $11,147 |
10.0%
Average amount $15,132 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
16,839
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
14,587
Men 50.1% Women 49.9% |
Graduate students |
8,080
Men 40.0% Women 60.0% |
3,679
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 1.8% | 23.8% |
International students | 4.4% | 7.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 3,192 | 5,130 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Michigan Ohio Illinois New York Washington | Michigan Illinois Indiana Wisconsin Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 55.8% | 56.3% |
Dropout rate | 38.5% | 14.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 25.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
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