Western Michigan University, established in 1903, is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Today enrollment is near 30,000 students. Its College of Aviation is one of the largest in the country. The university is also noted for its paper processing program, and Haworth Business College. WMU is expanding with a Business and Technology park for research, a new aviation campus in Battle Creek, and extensive building and restoration projects on the Kalamazoo Campus.

Western Michigan University is an accredited NCAA Division I-A school and competes in the Mid-American Conference in Men's Baseball, basketball, football, soccer and tennis, as well as Women's basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, skating, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Its men's hockey team competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

Western Michigan's mascot is Buster Bronco.

Famous alums include actor Tim Allen, former Detroit mayor Dennis Archer, current Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, and former NHL executive Neil Smith, who helped the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup as general manager in 1994. ABC Sports personality John Saunders also played hockey at WMU with brother Bernie before graduating.