Western Michigan University (WMU) vs Wright State
Western Michigan University and Wright State University-Main Campus, both located in the Midwest, offer distinct educational experiences. Western Michigan, situated in Kalamazoo, boasts a higher acceptance rate of 84% compared to Wright State's 79%. With a larger student body, Western Michigan hosts a more diverse population, while Wright State's student body is predominantly White. In terms of academics, Western Michigan excels in fields like Business, Engineering, and Health Professions, while Wright State is known for its strengths in Engineering, Education, and Health Sciences. Both universities offer a vibrant campus life, with Western Michigan having a slightly higher graduation rate. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Western Michigan University |
![]() Wright State University-Main Campus |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Dayton, Ohio |
Campus setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
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 | 77.0% | 65.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 82.8% | 96.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$50
|
$40 |
SAT range | 1000 - 1220 | 945 - 1250 |
ACT range | 21 - 27 | 17 - 24 |
Students submitting SAT score | 37.0% | 6.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 7.0% | 79.0% |
Total number of applicants | 18,853 | 6,338 |
Total number of admissions given out | 15,612 | 6,087 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,112 | 1,132 |
Yield rate | 13.5% | 18.6% |
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) | Required | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$27,947
Out of state:
$31,281
|
In state:
$26,960
Out of state:
$36,378
|
Average net price | $19,749 | $14,198 |
Tuition |
In state:
$13,334
Out of state:
$16,668
|
In state:
$10,340
Out of state:
$19,758
|
Room & board | $10,884 |
Room/dormitory:
$5,120
Meal plan:
$4,700
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
95.0%
Average amount $6,352 |
91.0%
Average amount $8,040 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
49.0%
Average amount $5,188 |
48.0%
Average amount $5,050 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $15,132 |
6.0%
Average amount $10,596 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
14,587
Men 50.1% Women 49.9% |
7,477
Men 45.4% Women 54.6% |
Graduate students |
3,679
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
2,818
Men 45.4% Women 54.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 23.8% | 5.2% |
International students | 7.3% | 8.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 5,130 | 2,984 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Michigan Illinois Indiana Wisconsin Ohio | Ohio Indiana Michigan Florida Georgia |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 56.3% | 43.9% |
Dropout rate | 14.6% | 54.0% |
Transferred out | 25.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Master's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.

















































































































































































































