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CMU GVSU Oakland WSU Michigan State ISU Eastern Michigan University Northern Illinois Michigan Tech Michigan UM-Dearborn Ferris State University| Western Michigan University | La Roche College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WMU | LRC | ||
| Location | Kalamazoo, MI | Pittsburgh, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 16,693 | 2,618 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #631 | #677 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wmich.edu | laroche.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WMU | LRC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $15,198 | $31,960 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $18,998 | $31,960 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,713 | $13,268 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,183 | $24,638 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,217 | $21,167 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 91% | 96% |
Admission |
WMU | LRC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,100 | 2,063 | ||
| Admitted | 17,020 | 1,601 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.7% | 77.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.5% | 10.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.5 | 3.2 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 990/1220 | 1055/1235 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
WMU | LRC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WMU | LRC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 51% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,900 | $44,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,633 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $275 | $268 |
Diversity |
WMU | LRC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 72% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 4% | 16% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 8% |
Students |
WMU | LRC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 5% | ||
Campus |
WMU | LRC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Michigan University is larger than than LRC based on total student enrollment (16,693 students vs. 2,618 students)
WMU vs. LRC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WMU or LRC?
- La Roche College is 110.3% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($31,960.00 vs. $15,198.00)
- Out of state tuition is 68.2% higher at LRC than Western Michigan University ($31,960.00 vs. $18,998.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than LRC ($20,183 vs. $24,638)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 13.3% lower than costs at La Roche College ($11,713 vs. $13,268)
- More students receive financial grant aid at La Roche College than Western Michigan University (96% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by La Roche College students is 157.6% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($21,167 vs. $8,217)
WMU vs. LRC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WMU or LRC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LRC or WMU .
- The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 91 points higher than at LRC (939)
- Incoming WMU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at LRC (20)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at LRC (3.2)
- WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.7%) than LRC (77.6%)
WMU vs. LRC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WMU or LRC? 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 LRC and WMU.
- The graduation rate at WMU is higher than La Roche College (56% vs. 51%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $4,600 more per year than LRC graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $44,300)
- La Roche College students graduate with a $633 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $26,633)
- LRC graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($268 vs. $275)
- More LRC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/