Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $29,237. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for Michigan residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $15,252 | $19,034 |
| Housing & meals | $11,713 | $11,713 |
| Books & supplies | $1,128 | $1,128 |
| Personal & travel | $2,631 | $2,631 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,487 | −$1,487 |
| Total cost of attendance | $29,237 | $33,019 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
WMU net price compared with other Michigan colleges
WMU has the 23rd-lowest average net price of 48 Michigan colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Northern Michigan University | $14,085 | 52% | $47,107 |
| 20 | Michigan Technological University | $14,182 | 68% | $78,198 |
| 21 | Albion College | $14,301 | 62% | $58,799 |
| 22 | University of Detroit Mercy | $15,232 | 67% | $71,030 |
| 23 | Western Michigan University | $15,273 | 58% | $53,562 |
| 24 | Eastern Michigan University | $15,407 | 46% | $51,793 |
| 25 | Great Lakes Christian College | $15,524 | 36% | $31,053 |
| 26 | Kuyper College | $15,644 | 50% | $41,066 |
| 27 | Grand Valley State University | $16,317 | 67% | $56,118 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Michigan colleges →
Why WMU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan University | 85% | $15,273 | 58% | $53,562 | This school |
| Oakland University | 88% | $9,120 | 58% | $58,612 | |
| Wayne State University | 81% | $12,766 | 58% | $53,493 | |
| Central Michigan University | 90% | $17,597 | 59% | $55,874 | |
| Eastern Michigan University | 80% | $15,407 | 46% | $51,793 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Western Michigan University would cost you $6,153 more per year than Oakland University, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Western Michigan University, mostly from more Oakland University students living at home, which lowers its average (+$3,202).
- Oakland University gives aided families $2,098 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Michigan resident | WMU | OU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $15,252 | $15,262 | −$10 |
| Books & supplies | $1,128 | $700 | +$428 |
| Housing & meals | $11,713 | $11,309 | +$404 |
| Personal & travel | $2,631 | $2,600 | +$31 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,487 | −$4,689 | +$3,202 |
| Sticker price | $29,237 | $25,182 | +$4,055 |
| Average grants | −$13,964 | −$16,062 | +$2,098 |
| You pay | $15,273 | $9,120 | +$6,153 |
“+” means WMU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
WMU cost questions
How much is tuition at WMU?
Tuition and fees are $15,252 a year for Michigan residents and $19,034 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending WMU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $29,237 a year for Michigan residents living on campus and about $33,019 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at WMU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $15,273 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $5,263; $48–75k pay $13,833; $110k+ pay $23,625. These figures are for Michigan residents.
How much debt do WMU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $20,115, and 5.6% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
Is WMU the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Western Michigan University overview