Getting in
For Fall 2025, 20,927 first-year students applied to Western Michigan, 17,853 were admitted and 2,303 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 85.3%.
Source: WMU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | 14,374 | 12,555 | 87.3% |
| Out-of-state | 5,745 | 5,072 | 88.3% |
| International | 808 | 226 | 28% |
Source: WMU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. WMU's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major.
Source: WMU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early action. WMU has no early decision plan. Its early action plan is not binding and not restrictive. The counts are for students who entered in fall 2025.
Early action, Fall 2025
| Plan | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | 17,691 | 15,831 | 89.5% |
Source: WMU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
You apply to WMU through the Common App. A few programs ask for more:
- Aviation Flight Science. A competitive program with limited seats, fall entry only. Apply by the December 1 early action deadline; recommendation letters, essays and other materials are optional, but WMU says you should send them. Decisions come out in mid-February, and you confirm by May 1.
Source: WMU Admissions, Competitive Admission Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
- Bronson School of Nursing (direct admission). Direct admission for first-year students is competitive, fall entry only, with the same December 1 deadline, mid-February decisions and May 1 confirmation.
Source: WMU Admissions, Competitive Admission Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
- College of Fine Arts. Art applicants submit a portfolio through SlideRoom; music and dance applicants audition; theatre applicants audition, or interview if they are not performers; Product Design takes a portfolio through SlideRoom for initial acceptance.
Source: WMU College of Fine Arts, Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Source: WMU Admissions, Competitive Admission Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
148 majors across 8 schools. Every bachelor's degree major on WMU's official undergraduate programs list, grouped by the college that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Minors, certificates, pre-professional tracks and graduate programs are left out.
College of Arts and Sciences57
- African American and African Studies (BA)
- Anthropology (BA)
- Biochemistry (BS)
- Biology (BS)
- Biomedical Sciences (BS)
- Business-Oriented Chemistry (BS)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Communication Studies (BA)
- Community and Regional Planning (BS)
- Criminal Justice Studies (BA)
- Data Science (BS)
- Digital Media and Journalism (BA)
- Earth Science (BS)
- Economics (BA)
- Economics (BS)
- English: Creative Writing (BA)
- English: Literature and Language (BA)
- English: Rhetoric and Writing Studies (BA)
- Environmental and Sustainability Studies (BA)
- Environmental and Sustainability Studies (BS)
- Environmental Geography (BS)
- Environmental Geology (BS)
- Film, Video and Media Studies (BA)
- French (BA)
- Freshwater Science and Sustainability (BS)
- Gender and Women's Studies (BA)
- Geochemistry (BS)
- Geographic Information Science (BS)
- Geology (BS)
- Geophysics (BS)
- German (BA)
- Global and International Studies (BA)
- History (BA)
- Hydrogeology (BS)
- Integrated Science (BS)
- Interpersonal Communication (BA)
- Japanese (BA)
- Latin (BA)
- Mathematics (BA)
- Mathematics (BS)
- Philosophy (BA)
- Physics (BS)
- Political Science (BA)
- Psychology (BS)
- Public and Nonprofit Administration (BS)
- Public History (BA)
- Social Psychology (BA)
- Social Studies (BA)
- Sociology (BA)
- Spanish (BA)
- Statistics (BS)
- Strategic Communication (BA)
- Teaching and Learning Mathematics (BA)
- Teaching and Learning Mathematics (BS)
- Tourism and Travel (BA)
- Urban, Regional and Environmental Planning (BS)
- World Religions and Cultures (BA)
Source: WMU College of Arts and Sciences, Academic Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Aviation3
- Aviation Flight Science (BS)
- Aviation Management and Operations (BS)
- Aviation Technical Operations (BS)
Source: WMU College of Aviation, Academics (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Education and Human Development20
- Business Education (BS)
- Child Development and Services (BS)
- Early Childhood General and Special Education: Birth through Kindergarten (BS)
- Early Childhood General and Special Education and Lower Elementary (BS)
- Education and Human Development (BS)
- Elementary Education (BS)
- Elementary Education PK-3 and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) K-12 (BS)
- Event Management (BS)
- Exercise Science (BS)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education (BS)
- Fashion Design and Development (BS)
- Fashion Merchandising (BS)
- Industrial Technology Education (BS)
- Nutrition and Dietetics (BS)
- Occupational Education Studies (BS)
- Physical and Health Education Teacher Education: K-12 (BS)
- Recreation Management (BS)
- Special Education Learning Disabilities K-12 and Elementary Education PK-3 (BS)
- Sport Management (BS)
- Workforce Education and Development (BA)
Source: WMU College of Education and Human Development, Undergraduate Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences14
- Aerospace Engineering (BSE)
- Chemical Engineering (BSE)
- Civil Engineering (BSE)
- Computer Engineering (BSE)
- Computer Science (BS)
- Construction Engineering (BSE)
- Cybersecurity (BS)Listed by both the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Haworth College of Business.
- Electrical Engineering (BSE)
- Engineering Design Technology (BS)
- Engineering Management Technology (BS)
- Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering (BSE)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology (BS)
- Mechanical Engineering (BSE)
- Paper Engineering (BSE)
Source: WMU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Academics (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Fine Arts26
- Acting (BFA)
- Art (BA)
- Art (BFA)
- Art Education (BFA)
- Art History (BA)
- Art: Kinetic Imaging (BS)
- Arts Administration (BA)
- Dance (BA)
- Dance (BFA)
- Graphic Design (BFA)
- Interior Architecture and Design (BS)
- Multimedia Arts Technology - Music (BS)
- Music (BA)
- Music Composition (BM)
- Music Education: Choral/General (BM)
- Music Education: Instrumental (BM)
- Music Performance: Instrumental (BM)
- Music Performance: Keyboard (BM)
- Music Performance: Vocal (BM)
- Music Therapy (BM)
- Music: Jazz Studies (BM)
- Musical Arts (BMA)
- Product Design (BFA)
- Stage Management (BFA)
- Theatre Design and Technical Production (BFA)
- Theatre: Music Theatre Performance (BFA)
Source: WMU Undergraduate Programs (A to Z) (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Health and Human Services10
- Health Administration (BS)
- Healthcare Services and Sciences (BS)
- Healthcare Services and Sciences Clinical Practice in Health (BS)
- Healthcare Services and Sciences Physician Assistant Preparation (BS)
- Healthcare Services and Rehabilitation Sciences (BS)
- Nursing (BSN)
- Occupational Therapy Assistant (BS)
- Public Health (BS)
- Social Work (BSW)
- Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (BS)
Source: WMU College of Health and Human Services, Academic Programs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Haworth College of Business16
- Accountancy (BBA)
- Business Analytics (BBA)
- Business Law (BBA)
- Computer Information Systems (BBA)
- Cybersecurity (BS)Listed by both the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Haworth College of Business.
- Digital Marketing (BBA)
- Economics in Business (BBA)
- Finance (BBA)
- Food Marketing (BBA)
- Human Resource Management (BBA)
- Integrated Business Administration (BBA)
- Leadership and Business Strategy (BBA)
- Marketing (BBA)
- Personal Financial Planning (BBA)
- Sales and Business Marketing (BBA)
- Supply Chain Management (BBA)
Source: WMU Haworth College of Business, Academics (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Merze Tate College2
- University Studies (BA)
- University Studies (BS)
Source: WMU Merze Tate College, University Studies (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | December 1 | After winter break | No |
| Rolling admission | June 1 | Six to eight weeks after your file is complete | No |
WMU accepts first-year applications only through the Common App. Application review begins in October. Applying by the December 1 early action deadline puts you in line for admission to every WMU program, admissions merit scholarships, Medallion scholarship consideration and a priority invitation to the Lee Honors College. Application materials must arrive by the deadline.
Source: WMU Admissions, Important Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
WMU is test-optional for admission and for Office of Admissions scholarships. If you want your scores used, self-report them on the application and report every test date; WMU superscores the SAT and the ACT, and says a score will not disadvantage you. If a score was used in your admission, you send official scores before orientation.
Source: WMU Admissions, WMU Testing Policy (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set marks the SAT or ACT as not considered for fall 2027 applicants, and adds that scores are used only if they help a student.
Source: WMU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked Western Michigan's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: WMU Admissions, Admission Criteria (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at Western Michigan, 2026-2027:
| Item | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $16,449 | $20,525 |
| Standard fees | $140 | $140 |
| Housing and food | $14,590 | $14,590 |
| Books and supplies | $1,128 | $1,128 |
| Transportation | $2,880 | $2,880 |
| Loan fees | $37 | $37 |
| Other expenses | $2,046 | $2,046 |
| Total | $37,270 | $41,346 |
WMU's estimated budget for an undergraduate, fall and spring, on or off campus. Business, engineering and fine arts majors pay differential tuition on top of the flat rate.
Source: WMU Student Financial Aid, Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $5,263 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $5,734 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $13,833 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $18,307 |
| Over $110,000 | $23,625 |
| All incomes | $15,273 |
What first-year, full-time, in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from WMU's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Western Michigan University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI · Public83.2% admitted$19,680 average net price
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI · Public83.6% admitted$12,766 average net price
Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton, MI · Public85.5% admitted$14,182 average net price
Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · Public85.5% admitted$19,398 average net price
University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · Public88% admitted$25,648 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.