58%
Graduation Rate
27%
Transfer-out Rate
81%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At Western Michigan University, the graduation rate is 58 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 81 %, and the transfer-out rate is 27 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 56.21% (public Research University with high research activity).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 1,719 students out of 2,986 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at Western Michigan University.
By gender, 794 male and 925 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 2,986 | 1,719 | 57.57% |
|---|
| Men | 1,513 | 794 | 52.48% |
|---|
| Women | 1,473 | 925 | 62.80% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at Western Michigan University.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 45.45%
- Asian: 64.10%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 42.12%
- Hispanic: 47.72%
- White: 61.16%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 100.00%
- Two or More Race: 43.22%
- Unknown: 68.09%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 45.45%(5/11) |
50.00%(4/8) |
33.33%(1/3) |
|---|
| Asian | 64.10%(50/78) |
55.56%(20/36) |
71.43%(30/42) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 42.12%(131/311) |
34.45%(41/119) |
46.88%(90/192) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 47.72%(136/285) |
37.14%(52/140) |
57.93%(84/145) |
|---|
| White | 61.16%(1,252/2,047) |
56.78%(611/1,076) |
66.01%(641/971) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 100.00%(2/2) |
- |
100.00%(2/2) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 43.22%(51/118) |
27.78%(15/54) |
56.25%(36/64) |
|---|
| Unknown | 68.09%(32/47) |
65.00%(13/20) |
70.37%(19/27) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At WMU, the transfer-out rate is 26.56%. Its transfer-out rate is much higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 18.69%.
WMU's retention rate is 81% for full-time students and 64 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is around the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 77.30%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At Western Michigan University, 60 of 87 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 68.97%.