Western Michigan University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Western Michigan University Library

Michigan Municipal League / Flickr / CC BY-2.0

Western Michigan University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 81%. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, WMU is part of the Michigan Association of State Universities. Business and health fields are the most popular undergraduate majors, but for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Western Michigan University was awarded a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Academically talented students might consider joining the Lee Honors College. In athletics, the WMU Broncos compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference (MAC).

Considering applying to Western Michigan University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, Western Michigan University had an acceptance rate of 81%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 81 students were admitted, making WMU's admissions process somewhat competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2017-18)
Number of Applicants 17,051
Percent Admitted 81%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 22%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Western Michigan University requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 82% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 500 600
Math 490 590
ERW-Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of Western Michigan's admitted students fall within the bottom 29% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Western Michigan scored between 500 and 600, while 25% scored below 500 and 25% scored above 600. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 490 and 590, while 25% scored below 490 and 25% scored above 590. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1190 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at WMU.

Requirements

Western Michigan University does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests. Note that Western Michigan participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

WMU requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 33% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 20 25
Math 18 26
Composite 20 26

This admissions data tells us that most of Western Michigan's admitted students fall within the top 48% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to WMU received a composite ACT score between 20 and 26, while 25% scored above 26 and 25% scored below 20.

Requirements

WMU does not require the optional ACT writing section. Note that Western Michigan superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2018, the average high school GPA of Western Michigan University's incoming freshmen class was 3.4, and over 44% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.5 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to WMU have primarily high B grades.

Admissions Chances

Western Michigan University, which accepts more than three-quarters of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average range, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, Western Michigan also uses a holistic admission approach that considers academic achievement in rigorous coursework, strength of high school program, and trends in grades. Potential applicants should have a minimum of four years of English; three years of math; three years of natural science (including 2 with lab component), and two years of the same foreign language.

WMU is also interested in learning about you and your interests outside of the classroom. Be sure to include information regarding extracurricular and leadership activities and employment in your application. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and test scores are outside Western Michigan's average range.

Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

If You Like Western Michigan University, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Western Michigan University Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "Western Michigan University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/western-michigan-university-admissions-787267. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 25). Western Michigan University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/western-michigan-university-admissions-787267 Grove, Allen. "Western Michigan University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/western-michigan-university-admissions-787267 (accessed March 28, 2024).