Western Michigan University (WMU) vs University of Northern Iowa (UNI)

Western Michigan University and University of Northern Iowa, both esteemed public universities in the Midwest, offer distinct educational experiences. Western Michigan, located in Kalamazoo, boasts a higher acceptance rate, allowing more students the opportunity to pursue their academic aspirations. In contrast, University of Northern Iowa, situated in Cedar Falls, maintains a more selective admissions process. While Western Michigan's student body is more diverse, University of Northern Iowa has a slightly higher graduation rate. Both universities excel in various academic disciplines, with Western Michigan excelling in fields like engineering and business, while University of Northern Iowa shines in areas such as education and nursing. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which institution aligns best with your academic goals and preferences.
University of Northern Iowa logo

University of Northern Iowa

Western Michigan University logo

Western Michigan University

Overview

Location Cedar Falls, Iowa Kalamazoo, Michigan
Campus setting City: Small 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%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 85.8% 82.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $50
SAT range 980 - 1190 1000 - 1220
ACT range 20 - 26 21 - 27
Students submitting SAT score 3.0% 37.0%
Students submitting ACT score 66.0% 7.0%
Total number of applicants 4,772 18,853
Total number of admissions given out 4,094 15,612
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,553 2,112
Yield rate 37.9% 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: $21,409

Out of state: $32,109
In state: $27,947

Out of state: $31,281
Average net price $15,231 $19,749
Tuition
In state: $7,780

Out of state: $18,480
In state: $13,334

Out of state: $16,668
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,699

Meal plan: $4,461
$10,884
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Other alternative tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

76.0%
Average amount $6,227
95.0%
Average amount $6,352
Students receiving federal student loan 47.0%
Average amount $5,115
49.0%
Average amount $5,188
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $7,770
10.0%
Average amount $15,132

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 7,967
Men 38.9% Women 61.1%
14,587
Men 50.1% Women 49.9%
Graduate students 1,250
Men 25.9% Women 74.1%
3,679
Men 37.4% Women 62.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 9.5% 23.8%
International students 2.4% 7.3%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 3,412 5,130
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Iowa Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin Missouri Michigan Illinois Indiana Wisconsin Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.9% 56.3%
Dropout rate 9.5% 14.6%
Transferred out 20.6% 25.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,668
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $72,923
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,120
  • Year 2: $60,399
  • Year 3: $71,051
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,778
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $70,112
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,521
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $65,647
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,320
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $65,408
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,657
  • Year 3: $63,798
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,695
  • Year 2: $52,908
  • Year 3: $60,640
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,123
  • Year 2: $49,752
  • Year 3: $57,498
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,675
  • Year 2: $55,151
  • Year 3: $57,318
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,372
  • Year 2: $45,221
  • Year 3: $57,298
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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