Western Michigan University (WMU) vs Cal State Fullerton

Western Michigan University (WMU) and California State University-Fullerton (CSUF) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. WMU, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, boasts a higher acceptance rate (79%) compared to CSUF's 34%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with WMU excelling in fields like engineering, business, and health sciences, while CSUF shines in business, communications, and the arts. WMU's student body is predominantly White (64%), while CSUF's is more diverse, with a significant Hispanic population (42%). In terms of graduation rates, CSUF has a slight edge over WMU, with a 6-year graduation rate of 63% compared to WMU's 59%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two institutions. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations
California State University-Fullerton logo

California State University-Fullerton

Western Michigan University logo

Western Michigan University

Overview

Location Fullerton, California Kalamazoo, Michigan
Campus setting Suburb: 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 87.0% 77.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 59.4% 82.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 1000 - 1220
ACT range N/A 21 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 37.0%
Students submitting ACT score 7.0%
Total number of applicants 45,140 18,853
Total number of admissions given out 26,827 15,612
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,219 2,112
Yield rate 15.7% 13.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $30,282

Out of state: $42,162
In state: $27,947

Out of state: $31,281
Average net price $4,939 $19,749
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
In state: $13,334

Out of state: $16,668
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $12,918

Meal plan: $4,374
$10,884
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Other alternative tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

74.0%
Average amount $9,215
95.0%
Average amount $6,352
Students receiving federal student loan 17.0%
Average amount $4,700
49.0%
Average amount $5,188
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $11,380
10.0%
Average amount $15,132

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 35,600
Men 41.2% Women 58.8%
14,587
Men 50.1% Women 49.9%
Graduate students 5,138
Men 36.8% Women 63.2%
3,679
Men 37.4% Women 62.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 0.9% 23.8%
International students 4.9% 7.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,045 5,130
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas Hawaii Illinois Arizona Michigan Illinois Indiana Wisconsin Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 25:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 71.5% 56.3%
Dropout rate 21.3% 14.6%
Transferred out 1.8% 25.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $145,938
  • Year 2: $157,680
  • Year 3: $165,916
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $138,162
  • Year 2: $114,595
  • Year 3: $130,592
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $113,642
  • Year 2: $110,241
  • Year 3: $114,173
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,293
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $97,266
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,611
  • Year 2: $86,042
  • Year 3: $94,651
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,934
  • Year 2: $80,779
  • Year 3: $90,936
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,382
  • Year 2: $78,971
  • Year 3: $89,837
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,840
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $81,048
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,980
  • Year 2: $76,325
  • Year 3: $79,512
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,145
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $78,803
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,212
  • Year 2: $103,274
  • Year 3: $105,179
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,392
  • Year 2: $73,801
  • Year 3: $88,332
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $87,977
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,143
  • Year 2: $65,945
  • Year 3: $79,982
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,346
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $77,922
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,069
  • Year 2: $73,562
  • Year 3: $77,263
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,557
  • Year 2: $70,776
  • Year 3: $75,447
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,559
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $73,968
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,118
  • Year 2: $63,749
  • Year 3: $72,465
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,803
  • Year 2: $59,576
  • Year 3: $69,288

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