About WMU

Broncos have purpose. Broncos thrive. Broncos prosper.

At Western, you can seek a deeper understanding of who you are and who you’re meant to become. Beyond book smarts, your potential lies in your pursuit of purpose and your ability to thrive in all areas of life while also reaching your highest professional goals.

 

 

What makes Western Michigan different?

At Western, we’re redefining success as we expand what it means to be smart in an ever-changing world. Beyond preparing you for your career, perhaps the most special thing about Western is our approach to helping you find a deeper meaning and a better way of thinking. We believe a great education is about more than getting an A on an assignment.

It’s about also having purpose and creating a life well lived. It’s about knowing that failure is success in progress. It’s about preparing you for a meaningful life by helping you to pursue your purpose, thrive and prosper while making a meaningful impact on society.

 

 

Land acknowledgment statement

Land acknowledgment is a process by which individuals are prompted to consider the history of the space they currently inhabit.

We would like to recognize that Western Michigan University is located on lands historically occupied by the Ojibwe, Odawa and Bodewadmi nations. Please take a moment to acknowledge and honor this ancestral land of the Three Fires Confederacy, the sacred lands of all Indigenous peoples and their continued presence.

 

 

 

Western has really given me the technical and conceptual skills to become what I want to be as an artist. I've gotten a fantastic base here that I can jump off of and really thrive when I'm out of college and starting to establish myself in the art world.
—Rozlin Opolka, B.F.A.'20, painting (from Fowlerville, Michigan)

Explore Western

State building.

Real-world experiences inspire purpose

Firsthand experience—like lobbying legislators about environmental policy—has the greatest impact with students.
Get a head start
Fall Mental Health week is a great opportunity for WMU students to learn about different ways to stress and take care of their mental health.

Focusing on the whole student

If we’re not taking care of our mental health, then how are we going to be able to thrive and do the things that we want to be able to do?
——Dr. Brian Fuller, director of Counseling Services
Focus on mental health
A faculty member works with a product design student

Career development

Students in Western’s new product design program study fine arts, business and engineering, preparing them for in-demand careers.
Design your future
Signature experiences students can apply what they have learned in and out of the classroom to real-world problems. Photo of a student working with a dog.

WMU Signature

Our WMU Signature program draws on all your experiences to help you determine a career path that’s right for you.
Explore the program
Merze Tate College announcement, Dr. Bott is speaking at a podium.

Merze Tate College

Find invaluable resources, skills, knowledge and connections to help guide you on the path toward success.
Discover your purpose
Donte' Tuggle and Erika Hejl poses outside of Schneider hall. Donte' secured a job with Nike and Erika found employment with Smucker’s through their education and opportunities provided by WMU.

Success for a lifetime

Since my first day here, the faculty has been supportive in so many ways. It’s such an amazing opportunity and I’ve never felt like an outsider.
——Deniz Toker, recent graduate who teaches English to refugees
Read more student success stories
Every day, we challenge our thinking to create programs that make a lasting impact.