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.
"I was able to go to a nursing conference and was the only student there. I was surrounded by people who wrote the textbooks we were reading in class!"
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 David Le, who is a graduate nurse in critical care at Bronson Methodist Hospital after leading a cutting-edge project that could change the future of medicine nationwide. See where our alums are putting their passion into practice.
Published: Jan. 13, 2025
9 of 10
Broncos are employed quickly, working in their field in jobs they like
97%
of Broncos had instructors who made them excited about learning
95%
of graduates working full time have a job related to their degree
"Our professors tell us they get a lot of feedback from companies saying they want to hire Broncos because, compared to Michigan or Purdue where they are more textbook-based and theoretical, we're really getting experience. It's nice to know that there is a demand for me outside of here as soon as I graduate."
Employers and beyond
Sometimes, the numbers just speak for themselves. Like the fact that 92% of recent graduates working full time said they were satisfied with their job, earning a median salary of $60,000–$70,000 (based on 722 reported salaries). And 90% said their education and experiences as a student at Western prepared them for their profession.
| Who employs WMU graduates? | |||
| Amazon | Detroit Lions | Kalamazoo Public Schools | Stryker |
| Ascension | Eaton | Kellanova | State of Michigan |
| Boeing | ESPN+ | Meijer | Stewart Talent Agency |
| Blue Origin | Ford Motor Company | Nationwide Children's Hospital | Tesla |
| Bosch | Graphic Packaging | Parker Hannifin | United Airlines |
| Charles River Laboratories | Hershey | Pfizer | U.S. Air Force |
| Defense Intelligence Agency | Hormel Foods | Plante Moran | Whirlpool |
92%
of graduates working full time are satisfied with their job
$60,000-$70,000
median salary for recent graduates working full time
92%
of graduates felt their instructors cared about them as a person
"Western has one of the best aviation programs in the country. There are a lot of pathway programs where you can meet with different airlines and airports and talk about your experiences. As soon as you graduate, you can get an internship or a full-time job because Western has that impact; it has connections with so many airlines and different companies."
Experience-driven 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.
Arts administration grad thriving in community-driven theatre company
Hands-on experiences put engineering grad in driver's seat for career opportunities
Swing and a hit: Digital marketing grad's internship lands him job in the big leagues
Undergraduate research, career-related experiences helped psychology grad find purpose
Broncos Lead interns learn life skills in the legal field
Product design major gets a broad range of internship experience through Broncos Lead Internship Program
Continuing education
Every year, WMU graduates decide to take their education to the next level by pursuing a graduate degree. In 2023-24, 19% of graduates were furthering their education in nearly 140 fields of study.
