Western Michigan University vs Michigan State University

Western Michigan University is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Michigan State University is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. 

Overview Comparison
Western Michigan UniversityMichigan State University
Collegedunia Score4.1 Out of 106.1 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 1201 QS World University 2025
# 304 US News 2024
# 1001 QS World University 2024
# 152 QS World University 2025
# 60 US News 2024
# 116 Times Higher Education 2024
Subject Strength# 183 for Engineering by US News 2024
# 436 for Medicine by Round University Ranking 2018
# 180 for Law by US News 2024
# 68 for Engineering by US News 2024
# 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2024
# 111 for Medicine by US News 2024
ProgramsUG Programs -115
PG Programs -44
Doctorate Programs -1
UG Programs -148
PG Programs -91
Doctorate Programs -8
Acceptance Rate82.3 %65.7 %
Exam ScoreIELTS-6.5
SAT-960
TOEFL-80
GMAT-600
IELTS-6.5
PTE-80
SAT-1100
TOEFL-70
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   16927
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  16448
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 23683 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   41492
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  28280
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 10676 Per Year
placement (average package)

About nine out of 10 Western grads, they got a job or got into that graduate school program shortly after graduation.  91% of recent graduates working full time said they were satisfied with their job, earning a median salary of $55,000–$65,000. Some of the top employers of the university are: Amazon, Google, Pfizer, General Motors, Bronson, Delta Airlines, Kelloggs, Target etc.


Average annual salary: 70,455 USD; Top recruiters: General Motors Corporation, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Ford Motor Company, FCA Corp; Highest paid degrees: MBA (111,000 USD), Masters in Science (102,000 USD), Masters (90,000 USD), Masters of Arts (84,000 USD), Doctorate (81,000 USD), PhD (72,000 USD).


application requirements

Submit official transcripts 

Submit English language proficiency

Check program specific requirements

Academic transcripts; 2-3 Essays; 2-3 LORs; Resume; Standardized tests; Proof of English language proficiency; Additional requirements (Research proposals, interview, etc.)

Campuses and B-SchoolsNAEli Broad College of Business
CollegeDunia Reviews8.3/10 Read 1 reviews7.7/10 Read 12 reviews
General Facts Comparison
General FactsWestern Michigan UniversityMichigan State University
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1903
1855
Student:Faculty Ratio17:1
17:1
Male:Female50% Male, 50% Female49% Male, 51% Female
Location Facts

WMU's campuses encompass more than 1,200 acres and roughly 150 buildings. Western Michigan University is divided into five campuses in and near Kalamazoo:

West Campus
East Campus
Oakland Drive Campus
Parkview Campus
College of Aviation (Battle Creek, MI)


located in East Lansing, Michigan; perched on the banks of Red Cedar River; spread over 5,300 acres with 563 buildings on-campus.


Library

Western Michigan University Libraries is dedicated to helping you discover, explore and shape the information universe. Libraries provide a wide range of resources, programs and services that support the research, creative and academic pursuits of WMU and the global community.


29th largest academic library system in North America; over 7 million volumes & 6.7 million microforms; In 2018, Digital Scholarship Lab opened (built in partnership with the College of Arts and Letters)


Campus Life

Western Michigan has more than 300 registered student organizations. Students are welcomed to school each year with "Bronco Bash", an event with live entertainment performances and booths sponsored by student and community organizations. On-campus housing provides 23 residence halls and special interest housing for students in programs such as the honors college, aviation, business community, engineering and applied sciences. The Campus Activities Board is the main student organization responsible for bringing entertainment events for students. The organization sponsors concerts, comedians, special events, and "Miller Movies," presented at the school's main theater, Miller Auditorium. The Western Michigan Broncos are a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision school. They compete in the Mid-American Conference in men's basketball, baseball, football, soccer and tennis; and women's basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. The men's hockey team competes in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.


university campus houses: National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, Abrams Planetarium, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, country's largest residence hall system; Neighborhood Health and Wellness Program, Live On and Be Fit


Hostel#Off campus (with family) - $3987
#On campus - $9848
#Off campus (not with family) - $9848
#On campus - $10676
Famous Alumni

Tim Allen, actor
Curtis Armstrong, actor most notable for playing Booger in "Revenge Of The Nerds"
Danny DeKeyser, professional hockey player
Bruce Campbell, actor
Terry Crews, actor and professional football player


634,300 living alumni; Magic Johnson (American basketball player); Eli Broad (American entrepreneur); Sam Raimi (American filmmaker); Draymond Green (American basketball player); Tyler Oakley (America Youtuber); Richa Langella (Indian film actress); Timothy Granaderos (American actor); Verghese Kurien (Father of White Revolution in India); Peter Schmidt (American economist & econometrician).


City Life

Kalamazoo is as fun and quirky as its unusual name suggests. Its theaters, museums and live music venues make the city an arts and culture hot spot, and its craft brewery scene attracts visitors from around the region. Community events such as chili cook-offs, vintage fairs and farmers markets make this metro area a place where residents never find themselves without something to do. Shoppers can explore the Kalamazoo Mall, the nation’s first outdoor pedestrian mall, or The Crossroads in Portage. Hiking trails and green space throughout the area, including Asylum Lake Preserve and Portage Creek Bicentennial Park, provide recreation opportunities for nature lovers. The local arts scene in Kalamazoo is thriving. The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo hosts Art Hop, a free event displaying the work of local artists all around downtown, once a month. One draw of Kalamazoo and the nearby city of Portage is that the median housing cost is below the national average. Income and sales taxes in Michigan also are relatively low. At the same time, though, the average household income falls below the national average.


East Lansing- city in Michigan, USA located directly east of Lansing (the state capital); Famous tourist attractions: Spartan Stadium, Wharton Center, Jack Breslin Student Events Center, MSU Horticulture Garden, Abrams Planetarium; Unemployment rate- 2.7% (Dec 2019)


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