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CMU GVSU Oakland WSU Michigan State ISU Eastern Michigan University Northern Illinois Michigan Tech Michigan UM-Dearborn Ferris State University| Spring Arbor University | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SAU | WMU | ||
| Location | Spring Arbor, MI | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,396 | 17,000 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #634 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Free Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | arbor.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SAU | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $31,020 | $14,523 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,020 | $18,154 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,652 | $11,102 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,375 | $20,030 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,677 | $6,813 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 93% |
Admission |
SAU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,312 | 20,501 | ||
| Admitted | 1,094 | 17,334 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.3% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.8% | 15.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.61 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/26 | 19/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 970/1135 | 990/1220 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
SAU | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SAU | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,600 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,043 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $275 |
Diversity |
SAU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 23% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 77% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
SAU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 19% | ||
Campus |
SAU | WMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Michigan University is larger than than SAU based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 2,396 students)
SAU vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SAU or WMU?
- Spring Arbor University is 113.6% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($31,020.00 vs. $14,523.00)
- Out of state tuition is 70.9% higher at SAU than Western Michigan University ($31,020.00 vs. $18,154.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than SAU ($20,030 vs. $22,375)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spring Arbor University are 4.2% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,652 vs. $11,102)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Spring Arbor University than Western Michigan University (99% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Spring Arbor University students is 203.5% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($20,677 vs. $6,813)
SAU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SAU or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or SAU .
- The average SAT score at Spring Arbor University (1073) is 43 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming SAU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman SAU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at WMU (3.5)
- WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than SAU (47.3%)
SAU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SAU or WMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WMU and SAU.
- The graduation rate at SAU is the same as at Western Michigan University (56% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $6,300 more per year than SAU graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $42,600)
- Spring Arbor University students graduate with a $2,590 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($24,043 vs. $26,633)
- SAU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($248 vs. $275)
- More SAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/