Welcome to the Grand Rapids Campus of WMU!

It wasn’t long after its founding in Kalamazoo in 1903 that Western was asked by community leaders in Grand Rapids to bring advanced courses for teachers to this area.  Over the years, WMU has launched part-time programs in Grand Rapids allowing students to complete master’s and doctoral degrees while keeping their jobs. At first considered revolutionary, the early master’s level programs in business administration, engineering, counseling, educational leadership, and social work set the standard that other schools would eventually follow.

Western Michigan University’s commitment to Grand Rapids has expanded greatly over the years, paralleling the growth and development of both the University and the City. Today 2,000 advanced-degree seeking professionals in Grand Rapids enjoy convenient access to two dozen career enhancing graduate level programs offered by WMU - one of the nation’s top 100 public universities.  The long WMU heritage of excellence is your gateway to future success.

Western Michigan University in Grand Rapids offers the ideal combination -- superior facilities and experienced faculty -- to help working professionals earn a graduate degree or advanced certification. More than 90 percent of WMU students enrolled in Grand Rapids are employed full time. Courses needed for degree completion are offered at convenient times during the evenings or on weekends.  And, you do not need to go to Kalamazoo for your classes or student services.

The Grand Rapids Campus of WMU offers programs at two convenient locations: The Graduate Center - Beltline (just north of 28th street) and The Graduate Center - Downtown (just south of the Van Andel Arena.) These state-of-the-art facilities feature high-quality online research resources as well as important amenities such as executive conference center ambience and furnishings, sophisticated audio-visual instructional support, and pervasive computing technology. Ample and convenient parking is available at both locations. Currently enrolled students have access to computer services including Internet, E-mail and on-line library services.

With an attractive, wooded, campus-like setting, The Graduate Center - Beltline offers conference planners and adult students a convenient, comfortable and professional conferencing environment. The three-story, 40,000 square foot facility features 21 classrooms, two computer labs and a state-of-the-art interactive, compressed video conference room, as well as satellite downlink connections.

The Graduate Center - Downtown is located in the historic Cherry Street Landing district, two blocks south of the Van Andel Arena. It is a 77,000 sq. ft. facility featuring a Cyber-Cafe, a multi-functional Grand Hall, a dozen classrooms, a Computing Lab for on-line research, and a compressed video/distance education classroom. The Graduate Center - Downtown also houses the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, a community based counseling clinic, as well as faculty, advisor, and administrative offices.