UM-Dearborn vs. WMU

Should I go to University of Michigan Dearborn or Western Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UM-Dearborn or WMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Michigan Dearborn vs. Western Michigan University comparison
University of Michigan Dearborn Western Michigan University College 3 College 4
University of Michigan Dearborn Western Michigan University
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Overview

UM-Dearborn WMU
Location Dearborn, MI Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 8,035 16,693
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #405 #631
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umich.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UM-Dearborn WMU
Tuition (In State) $14,544 $15,198
Tuition (Out of State) $30,960 $18,998
Room & Board $10,803 $11,713
Avg Net Price $12,798 $20,183
Avg Grant Aid $9,552 $8,217
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 91%

Admission

UM-Dearborn WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,373 20,100
Admitted 7,254 17,020
Acceptance Rate 58.6% 84.7%
Enrolled % 15.9% 14.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/30 20/27
SAT Range 990/1260 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 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

UM-Dearborn WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

UM-Dearborn WMU
Graduation Rate 49% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,800 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $266 $275

Diversity

UM-Dearborn WMU
% Men 15% 8%
% Women 9% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 72%
% Black 9% 12%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

UM-Dearborn WMU
% In-State 93% 78%
% Out-of-State 3% 21%

Campus

UM-Dearborn WMU
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than UM-Dearborn based on total student enrollment (16,693 students vs. 8,035 students)

UM-Dearborn vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UM-Dearborn or WMU?

  • Western Michigan University is 4.5% more expensive to attend than UM-Dearborn for in-state tuition ($15,198.00 vs. $14,544.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63% higher at UM-Dearborn than Western Michigan University ($30,960.00 vs. $18,998.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan Dearborn than WMU ($12,798 vs. $20,183)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Dearborn are 8.4% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,803 vs. $11,713)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Michigan Dearborn than Western Michigan University (96% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Dearborn students is 16.2% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($9,552 vs. $8,217)

UM-Dearborn vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UM-Dearborn or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or UM-Dearborn .

  • The average SAT score at University of Michigan Dearborn (1105) is 75 points higher than at WMU (1030)
  • Incoming UM-Dearborn students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman UM-Dearborn students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at WMU (3.5)
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than UM-Dearborn (58.6%)

UM-Dearborn vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UM-Dearborn 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 UM-Dearborn.

  • The graduation rate at WMU is higher than University of Michigan Dearborn (56% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Dearborn earn on average $3,900 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($52,800 vs. $48,900)
  • University of Michigan Dearborn students graduate with a $883 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($25,750 vs. $26,633)
  • UM-Dearborn graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($266 vs. $275)
  • More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UM-Dearborn students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/