2017-18 Post-Graduation Activity Report - by college and major
Data for the 2017-18 report was obtained for 77% (N=4000) of the graduating class. Data was self-reported. We surveyed all (N=5452) WMU students graduating with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees between August 2017 and June 2018.
Where are the graduates of 2017-18?
91% of WMU graduates were actively engaged in full-time employment (72%), part-time employment (2%), military service (0.4%), full-time volunteer service (0.3%), and further education (16%).
| All degrees | Undergraduate | Graduate | |
| Actively Engaged | 91% | 91% | 92% |
| Employed full time | 72% | 69% | 80% |
| Employed part time | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Continuing education | 16% | 18% | 11% |
| Military service | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Volunteering full time | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Not Actively Engaged | 9% | 9% | 8% |
| Looking for work | 8% | 8% | 7% |
| Other commitments | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Full-Time Employment Highlights
- 72% were employed full time.
- Median salary was $45,000–$50,000 based on 1443 reported salaries.
- 86% have a job related to their degree.
- 89% are satisfied with their job.
| All degrees | Undergraduate | Graduate | |
| Job in Michigan | 76% | 78% | 72% |
| Job related to degree | 86% | 81% | 94% |
| Satisfied with the job | 89% | 89% | 91% |
Salary Ranges for Full-Time Employment
| 25th percentile | 50th percentile | 75th percentile | Responses | |
| All WMU | $35,000-$40,000 | $45,000-$50,000 | $60,000-$65,000 | 1443 |
| Undergraduate | $30,000-$35,000 | $40,000-$45,000 | $55,000-$60,000 | 940 |
| Graduate | $40,000-$45,000 | $50,000-$55,000 | $65,000-$70,000 | 503 |
Type of employers
65% of graduates work for for-profit businesses, 16% for nonprofit organizations, 15% for educational institutions, and 5% for government.
Select employers of undergraduate degrees
- American Axle and Manufacturing
- Advia Credit Union
- Aerotek
- Auto-Owners Insurance
- BDO USA
- Borgess
- C.H. Robinson
- Charles River Laboratories
- Consumers Credit Union
- Consumers Energy
- Coyote Logistics
- Delta Airlines
- Denso
- Duncan Aviation
- Eaton
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- General Motors
- Hormel Foods
- Insight Global
- J.B. Hunt
- Kalamazoo Public Schools
- Kellogg's
- Kroger
- Lakeland Health
- Mann+Hummel
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
- Nolan Transportation
- Parker Hannifin
- PepsiCo
- Perrigo
- Pfizer
- Plante Moran
- PNC Bank
- Portage Public Schools
- Quicken Loans
- Spectrum Health
- Stryker
- Summit Polymers
- Target
- Whirlpool
- WMU
- YMCA
- Zoetis
Select employers of graduate degrees
- Beaumont Health
- Bethany Christian Services
- Bronson
- Catholic Charities West Michigan
- Centria Healthcare
- Charles River Laboratories
- City of Kalamazoo
- Clinical Psychology Services
- Eaton
- Gateway Pediatric Therapy
- GRCC
- Grand Rapids Public Schools
- Hope Colleges
- Hope Network
- Indiana University
- Kalamazoo College
- Kalamazoo Public Schools
- KVCC
- Lakeland Health
- Mann+Hummel
- McLaren
- Michigan State University
- Pfizer
- Pine Rest
- Plante Moran
- PNC Bank
- Spectrum Health
- State of Michigan
- Stryker
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Whirlpool
- WMU
Location of full-time Employment
- 76% work in Michigan; 24% work in 45 other U.S. states; and 2% work in 17 countries outside the U.S.
- Top states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, California, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, New York, North Carolina.
- Top countries: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, China, and Indonesia.
Experiential education
- 93% of all WMU graduates completed at least one experiential education activity.
- 67% had an internship, co-op, practicum, or field experience where they applied what they were learning in the classroom.
- 63% had a job (full time or part time; on or off campus) where they applied what they were learning in the classroom.
- 59% worked on a project that took a semester or more to complete (e.g., capstone, senior design, senior performance project).
- 46% were very active in extracurricular activities and organizations (e.g., leadership role, or involved in multiple organizations such as RSO, intramurals, club sports, or volunteerism).
- View internships by major in the WMU Internship Catalog.
Select Internship Employers
- American Axle and Manufacturing
- American Red Cross
- Bethany Christian Services
- Borgess
- Bronson
- Center for Disability Services
- Communities in Schools
- Consumers Energy
- Coyote Logistics
- Denso
- Department of Health and Human Services
- DTE Energy
- Eaton
- Flowserve
- General Motors
- Kalamazoo Autism Center
- Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital
- Kalamazoo Public Schools
- Kalamazoo RESA
- Kellogg's
- Lakeland Health
- Landscape Forms
- Mann+Hummel
- Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
- Meijer
- Mel Trotter Ministries
- Parchment Public Schools
- Portage Public Shcools
- Public Media Network
- Spectrum Health
- Streamline Healthcare Solutions
- Stryker
- Summit Polymers
- University of Michigan
- Whirlpool
- WMU
- WMU Cooley Law School
- WoodsEdge Learning Center
- YMCA
- YWCA
- Zoetis
Continuing education
- 18% of undergraduates and 11% of graduate degree recipients will be pursuing further education after completing their WMU degree.
- 62% will pursue master's degrees, 18% doctoral degrees, and 7% professional schools.
- WMU graduates are pursuing further education in 134 fields of study.
- 66% attend WMU for further education.
Top Institutions Chosen for Further Education
- Arizona State University
- Eastern Michigan University
- Grand Valley State University
- Michigan State University
- University of Illinois
- University of Michigan
- Wayne State University
- Western Michigan University
- WMU Cooley Law School
- WMU Homer Stryker School of Medicine
Top fields Chosen for Further Education
- Accountancy
- Applied Economics
- Biology
- Civil Engineering
- Counseling Psychology
- Counselor Education
- Educational Leadership
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Law
- MBA
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medicine
- Music
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Philosophy
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Science Education
- Social Work
- Speech Pathology and Audiology
- Sports Management