Kalamazoo, the home of WMU's main campus, is the fifth largest city in Michigan, with a county population of more than 220,000 residents. The city is located midway between Chicago and Detroit, 140 miles from each, 2.5 hours driving time on I-94. Kalamazoo offers commercial transportation by train, bus, and major airline.

WMU's Miller Auditorium, Wings Stadium and the historic Chenery Auditorium and State Theater offer an array of concerts featuring diverse music and popular entertainment. The city is home to the Kalamazoo Ballet, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and the prestigious Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival.

Cultural opportunities include the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and art cinema sponsored by the Kalamazoo Film Society and Western Film Society. In addition to performances at WMU and at Kalamazoo College, there are several theatre companies, most notably the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, one of the most-respected community theatres in the United States.

Kalamazoo is just 40 minutes from Lake Michigan beaches and only three to four hours from Michigan's ski country, considered the best skiing in the central U.S. Excellent local skiing is only 30 minutes away.

The area offers a wide variety of opportunities for entertainment, culture, recreation, and employment.