Data for the 2019-20 report was obtained for 71% (N=3,493) of the graduating class. Data was self-reported. We surveyed all (N=4,927) WMU students graduating with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees between August 2019 and June 2020.
Where are the graduates of 2019-20?
91% of WMU graduates were actively engaged in full-time employment (70%), part-time employment (2%), military service (1%), full-time volunteer service (0.1%), and further education (18%).
| All degrees | Undergraduate | Graduate | |
| Actively Engaged | 91% | 90% | 94% |
| Employed full time | 70% | 66% | 79% |
| Employed part time | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Continuing education | 18% | 21% | 12% |
| Military service | 1% | 1% | 0.4% |
| Volunteering full time | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Not Actively Engaged | 9% | 10% | 6% |
| Looking for work | 8% | 9% | 5% |
| Other commitments | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Full-Time Employment Highlights
- 70% were employed full time.
- Median salary was $45,000–$50,000 based on 1,164 reported salaries.
- 91% have a job related to their degree.
- 88% are satisfied with their job.
| All degrees | Undergraduate | Graduate | |
| Job in Michigan | 79% | 80% | 77% |
| Job related to degree | 91% | 89% | 94% |
| Satisfied with the job | 88% | 88% | 87% |
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 | 1,164 |
| Undergraduate | $30,000-$35,000 | $45,000-$50,000 | $60,000-$66,000 | 749 |
| Graduate | $40,000-$45,000 | $50,000-$55,000 | $65,000-$70,000 | 415 |
Type of employers
55% of graduates work for for-profit businesses, 14% for nonprofit organizations, 21% for educational institutions, and 10% for government.
Select employers of undergraduate degrees
- Amazon
- Ascension
- Bronson
- Charles River Laboratories
- Eaton
- General Motors
- Gryphon Place
- Henry Ford Health System
- Hormel Foods
- Kalamazoo Public Schools
- Kellogg's
- Meijer
- Parker Hannifin
- Pfizer
- Plante Moran
- PNC
- Quicken Loans
- Samaritas
- Sparrow Health System
- Spectrum Health
- State of Michigan
- Stryker
- Summit Polymers
- Target
- U.S. Air Force
- U.S. Army
- Whirlpool
- Western Michigan University
Select employers of graduate degrees
- Addiction Treatment Services
- Ascension
- Battle Creek Public Schools
- Bethany Christian Services
- Bronson
- D.A. Blodgett
- Dearborn Public Schools
- Family Outreach Center
- Grand Valley State University
- Hope Network
- Indonesia Institute of Sciences
- InterAct of Michigan
- Kalamazoo College
- KPEP
- Kalamazoo Public Schools
- Kellogg's
- Kent ISD
- Mercy Health
- Muskegon Public Schools
- Oaklawn Hospital
- Pine Rest
- Portage Public Schools
- Samaritas
- Spectrum Health
- State of Michigan
- Stryker
- Summit Pointe
- TekWissen
- University of Michigan
- Vicksburg Community Schools
- Wayne State University
- Western Michigan University
Location of full-time Employment
- 79% work in Michigan; 18% work throughout the United States; and 3% work outside the U.S.
- Top states: Illinois, Indiana, California, Texas, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
- Top countries: Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Japan, Canada, China, Ghana, and Malaysia.
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.
- 61% 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).
- 45% 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
- Ascension
- Battle Creek VA
- BDO
- Bethany Christian Services
- Bronson
- Cheff Riding Center
- Communities in Schools
- Comstock Public Schools
- Consumers Energy
- DENSO
- DTE Energy
- Eaton
- FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
- Flowserve
- General Motors
- Grand Rapids Public Schools
- Gull Lake Community Schools
- Kalamazoo Autism Center
- Kalamazoo College
- Kalamazoo County
- Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital
- Kalamazoo Public Schools
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College
- Kellogg's
- KRESA
- Mann+Hummel
- Mattawan Schools
- Meijer
- Neenah
- Otsego Public Schools
- Parchment Public Schools
- Parker Hannifin
- Perrigo
- Pfizer
- Plante Moran
- Portage Public Schools
- Quicken Loans
- Spectrum Health
- Stryker
- Westrock
- Western Michigan University
- YWCA
- Zoetis
Continuing education
- 21% of undergraduates and 12% of graduate degree recipients will be pursuing further education after completing their WMU degree.
- 65% will pursue master's degrees, 19% doctoral degrees, and 6% professional schools.
- WMU graduates are pursuing further education in 179 fields of study.
- 64% attend WMU for further education.
Top Institutions Chosen for Further Education
- Boston University
- Cornell University
- DePaul University
- Florida State University
- Grand Valley State University
- Indiana University
- Kent State University
- Michigan State University
- Purdue University
- Saginaw Valley State University
- Texas A&M
- University of Alabama
- University of Arizona
- University of Colorado
- University of Detroit Mercy
- University of Florida
- University of Illinois
- University of Michigan
- University of North Carolina
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Wisconsin
- Wayne State University
- Western Michigan University
Top fields Chosen for Further Education
- Accountancy
- Aerospace Engineering
- Applied Economics
- Biological Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Business Administration
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Communication
- Counseling Psychology
- Counselor Education
- Criminal Justice
- Educational Leadership
- Geography
- Law
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medicine
- Music
- Occupational Therapy
- Philosophy
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Special Education
- Speech Pathology and Audiology
- Sports Management
Read WMU Alumni Success Stories
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