Housing Fast Facts
Residence Life is about more than a place to sleep. We provide a safe and supportive environment that gives students a foundation for success and a place to call home. Students can choose a variety of housing options from traditional residence halls to fully equipped apartments.
Who Are Our Students?
- 1 in 4 WMU students live on campus
- 91% of first-year students live in the residence halls
- 1 in 3 students in the residence halls are upper-level students
- 1 in 3 residence hall students are in a Living Learning Community
- An average of 32% of residence hall students return for another year in the halls, and the percent grows annually
- 57% of apartment residents are international students (represent 32 countries in 2012)
What Housing Options Exist?
- 13 residence halls
- 7 with suites
- 5 with community baths
- 1 with private bathrooms (junior status or 21+)
- First-year students can live in all but three halls
- 4 apartment complexes
- 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedroom units
- Semester-by-semester lease or 12-month contract (varies by complex)
- Furnished or unfurnished options
- Family housing available
- 1 residence hall with a semester contract option (residents must be 21+)
- 13 Living Learning Community options, 8 with an academic college connection
- A Master Plan that includes renovation and new construction for housing and dining at WMU
Can Where You Live Really Impact Your Grades?
Absolutely! When students live on campus, they are not only closer to academic supports like the library or Writing Center, but they have a staff invested in their academic success.
- 3 Student Success Centers in the residence halls offering tutoring 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. an average of 5 nights a week
- 4 academic colleges and Exploratory Advising have on-site offices or advising in the residence halls
- Students with a 3.25 cumulative GPA at the end of spring semester can live in a single room at a double rate the following fall (a savings of up to $2,506 annually)
- 52% of spring 2012 residence hall students had a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA for fall 2011
- WMU retention rates for on-campus students average 8% higher from Year 1 to Year 2 compared to off-campus students
- Academic learning community students tend to have average higher term GPAs than their non-learning community peers
- For the last 3 years, the average term GPA of residence halls student staff is 3.30
