WMU vs. Memphis

Should I go to Western Michigan University or University of Memphis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WMU or Memphis 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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Western Michigan University vs. University of Memphis comparison
Western Michigan University University of Memphis College 3 College 4
Western Michigan University University of Memphis
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Overview

WMU Memphis
Location Kalamazoo, MI Memphis, TN
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 17,000 21,917
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #634 #883
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wmich.edu memphis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WMU Memphis
Tuition (In State) $14,523 $8,352
Tuition (Out of State) $18,154 $12,576
Room & Board $11,102 $10,126
Avg Net Price $20,030 $13,873
Avg Grant Aid $6,813 $9,625
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 98%

Admission

WMU Memphis
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,501 15,767
Admitted 17,334 14,916
Acceptance Rate 84.6% 94.6%
Enrolled % 15.1% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 17/24
SAT Range 990/1220 930/1230
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

WMU Memphis
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

WMU Memphis
Graduation Rate 56% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,633 $25,250
Median Loan Payment $275 $261

Diversity

WMU Memphis
% Men 47% 40%
% Women 53% 60%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 50%
% Black 12% 37%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

WMU Memphis
% In-State 79% 81%
% Out-of-State 19% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Memphis is larger than than WMU based on total student enrollment (21,917 students vs. 17,000 students)

WMU vs. Memphis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU or Memphis?

  • Western Michigan University is 73.9% more expensive to attend than Memphis for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $8,352.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.4% higher at WMU than University of Memphis ($18,154.00 vs. $12,576.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Memphis than WMU ($13,873 vs. $20,030)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 9.6% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,126 vs. $11,102)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Memphis than Western Michigan University (98% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Memphis students is 41.3% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($9,625 vs. $6,813)

WMU vs. Memphis Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 1 points higher than at Memphis (1029)
  • Incoming WMU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Memphis (22)
  • Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Memphis (3.48)
  • Memphis has a higher acceptance rate (94.6%) than WMU (84.6%)

WMU vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WMU or Memphis? 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 Memphis and WMU.

  • The graduation rate at WMU is higher than University of Memphis (56% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $6,700 more per year than Memphis graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $42,200)
  • University of Memphis students graduate with a $1,383 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($25,250 vs. $26,633)
  • Memphis graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($261 vs. $275)
  • More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 37%)

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