Career outcomes for WMU students
You worked hard in classes, group projects, internships and individual research—now it’s your time to prosper in a meaningful career. For nine out of 10 Western grads, they got that job or got into that graduate school program shortly after graduation. If you take a closer look below, not only will you see where WMU graduates landed, but you’ll also see why choosing Western was the best career choice they could have made.
Where are WMU graduates now?
Where are WMU graduates now?
From the Fortune 500 and tech startups to the halls of academia, Western graduates land their dream career or position, like Samantha Morehead who started working at L'Oréal right after graduation. See where our alums are putting their passion into practice.
Published: Feb. 13, 2023
Pride points
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9 of 10 Broncos are employed quickly, working in their field in jobs they like
Career Outcomes Report (2021-22)
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97% of Broncos had instructors who made them excited about learning
Career Outcomes Report (2021-22)
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92% of graduates working full time have a job related to their degree
Career Outcomes Report (2021-22)
I was just trying to push my professional career as far as I could go with as much time as I had. I took any opportunity and went with it, whether it was a career fair, major mash-up, anything like that. I definitely owe it all to the (Haworth College of Business).
Hannah Douglas, B.B.A.'22 food and consumer package goods marketing (from Walled Lake, Michigan)
Employers and beyond
Sometimes, the numbers just speak for themselves. Like the fact that 91% of recent graduates working full time said they were satisfied with their job, earning a median salary of $55,000–$65,000 (based on 1,305 reported salaries). And 88% said their education and experiences as a student at Western prepared them for their profession.
Who employs WMU graduates? | |||
| Amazon | Pfizer | Summit Polymers | |
| Ascension | Hershey | Plante Moran | Target |
| Bronson | Hormel Foods | PNC | United Airlines |
| Charles River Laboratories | Kalamazoo Public Schools | Samaritas | United Nations |
| Delta Airlines | Kellogg's | Spectrum Health | U.S. Air Force |
| Eaton | Meijer | Stryker | U.S. Army |
| General Motors | Parker Hannifin | State of Michigan | Whirlpool |
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91% of graduates working full time are satisfied with their job
Career Outcomes Report (2021-22)
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$55,001-$65,000 median salary for recent graduates working full time
Career Outcomes Report (2021-22)
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88% of graduates say their education and experiences at Western prepared them for their profession
Career Outcomes Report (2021-22)
I have friends who went to Purdue who sometimes tell me, 'I wish we went to Western instead.' Western brings all the top resources and continues to advance technology, because technology in the field is advancing too.
Luis Jaime, B.S.'21 aviation technical operations
Experience-based learning
Often the best way to learn is by rolling up your sleeves and digging into a problem. That’s why 93% of Western students took the hands-on approach and completed at least one experience-driven learning activity, such as an internship, work-study program, or semester or yearlong academic project. This helped them gain some of the valuable, resume-worthy experiences and skills they later used to find their career after graduation.
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93% of graduates participated in experience-driven learning
Career Outcomes Report (2021-22)
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"Once I started to see results of these projects, I realized the true potential the research I was part of could have on cancer. ... I continue to learn new things in the research lab every day and have found my true passion for science and learning. It was in the research lab where I was able to confidently commit to a career in medicine, where science and learning will become part of my everyday life."
Grace Filpi, B.S.'22 biological sciences
Continuing education
Every year, WMU graduates decide to take their education to the next level by pursuing a graduate degree. In 2021-22, 20% of graduates were furthering their education in 139 fields of study.
