You worked hard in classes, group projects, internships and individual research—now it’s your time to prosper in a meaningful career. For nine out of 10 Western grads, they got that job or got into that graduate school program shortly after graduation. If you take a closer look below, you will see where WMU graduates landed, and you’ll also see why choosing Western was the best career choice they could have made.
There's no reason I, as a first-year graduate student, should have gone to Vienna to present at a conference. But Dr. Lemmer pushed for that. We presented research related to a cathode we had gotten, and the person who created the cathode was there. He was watching my talk and was impressed with the work we had done.
Where are WMU graduates now?
From the Fortune 500 and tech startups to the halls of academia, Western graduates land their dream career or position, like Dr. Margaret Mooney, who used Experience-Driven Learning as a launchpad, turning an internship at NASA into a career on the ascent. She's now working with leading researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. See where our alums are putting their passion into practice.
Published: Jan. 16, 2026
9 of 10
Broncos are employed quickly, working in their field in jobs they like
98%
of Broncos had instructors who made them excited about learning
94%
of graduates working full time have a job related to their degree
It was really helpful for me to gain hands-on experience in the criminal justice field and to know we were making a difference in solving cold cases that had been cold for many years. Families had been waiting.
Employers and beyond
Sometimes, the numbers just speak for themselves. Like the fact that 95% of recent graduates working full time said they were satisfied with their job, earning a median salary of $60,000–$70,000 (based on 881 reported salaries). And 92% said their education and experiences as a student at Western prepared them for their profession.
| Who employs WMU graduates? | |||
| Amazon | Disney | Kellanova | Rocket Mortgage |
| Ascension | Eaton | Kraft Heinz | State of Michigan |
| Boeing | Ford Motor Company | Meijer | Stryker |
| Bosch | Graphic Packaging | National Park Service | TikTok |
| Bronson Methodist Hospital | Hershey | Parker Hannifin | United Airlines |
| Charles River Laboratories | Hormel Foods | Pfizer | U.S. Air Force |
| Detroit Lions | Kalamazoo Public Schools | Plante Moran | Whirlpool |
95%
of graduates working full time are satisfied with their job
$60,000–$70,000
median salary for recent graduates working full time
93%
of graduates felt their instructors cared about them as a person
One of my goals before completing school was to get enough experience to get a job offer, because it takes a weight off your shoulders. And Western has so many resources—professors, career centers, advisors—to help make it happen.
Experience-Driven Learning
Often the best way to learn is by rolling up your sleeves and digging into a problem. That’s why 93% of Western students took the hands-on approach and completed at least one Experience-Driven Learning activity, such as an internship, work-study program, or semester-long or yearlong academic project. This helped them gain some of the valuable, resume-worthy experiences and skills they later used to find their career after graduation.
ArtPrize internship helps kinetic imaging students see big picture
Engineering students set career plans in motion through Grand Rapids internship
Hockey-loving exercise science grad nets experience-driven hat trick through internship, campus work and RSOs
Campus leader, future lawyer: Political science student builds case for success
Film major takes passion, career to Cannes Film Festival with WMU Study Abroad
Aviation student sees career opportunities take off in airport internship
Continuing education
Every year, WMU graduates decide to take their education to the next level by pursuing a graduate degree. In 2024-25, 19% of graduates were furthering their education in more than 165 fields of study.
