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Western Illinois University

Public Graduate Good 67/100

Western Illinois University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Macomb, Illinois

About Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Macomb, Illinois. It enrolls 4,410 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: wiu.edu

Acceptance: 71.2%
Graduation: 56.5%
Net Price: $12,937
Median Earnings (10yr): $54,163
Enrollment: 4,410
Student : Faculty: 14:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

67/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 16

Value 85

Affordability 60

Selectivity 60

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 71.2%, Western Illinois University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

71.2%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Western Illinois University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 18.3 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Western Illinois University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,937 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$12,937

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

28%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

32%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $15,264
Room & Board (on-campus): $11,320
Room & Board (off-campus): $11,320
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,772
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,373
Total Cost of Attendance: $28,254

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$6,941
$30,001 – $48,000

$8,787
$48,001 – $75,000

$12,062
$75,001 – $110,000

$16,294
Over $110,000

$19,701

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,750

10% percentile

$8,785

25% percentile

$25,251

Median percentile

$28,500

75% percentile

$40,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $22,811 ↓ $2,440

No Pell $15,000 ↓ $10,251

Dependent students $19,500 ↓ $5,751

Independent students $22,084 ↓ $3,167

Female students $20,998 ↓ $4,253

Male students $18,750 ↓ $6,501

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($25,251), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

57% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Illinois University graduate within six years, and 60% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

57%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

60%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Illinois University earn a median of $54,163 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$54,163

Earning > $25K

83%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$39,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$54,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$42,600

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$46,300

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$50,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $15,200, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 18.6 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Western Illinois University is home to 4,410 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

4,410

Part-Time

15%

First-Generation

38%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 57.9% 2,551

Black 18.7% 823

Hispanic 11.9% 526

International 4.5% 198

Other 3.8% 167

Asian 1.3% 57

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Illinois University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Remote Macomb, Illinois

Housing

Mostly residential 3,083 beds on campus

Adult Learners

16% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Western Illinois University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 98 distinct programs across 24 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

11 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)

3 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

5 Programs

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)
Parks $50K ($38K–$64K)

1 Program

Agriculture

Agriculture $54K ($39K–$71K)

6 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Illinois University is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

14:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$15,980

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$86M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$82,892

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

434 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	203	47%	$101,005
Associate Professors	72	17%	$81,498
Assistant Professors	81	19%	$65,495
Instructors	75	17%	$55,310
Lecturers	3	1%	$50,004

Pros & Cons of Western Illinois University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Illinois University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

First-year retention is below typical

Frequently Asked Questions about Western Illinois University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Illinois University.

Is Western Illinois University hard to get into?

Admissions at Western Illinois University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 71.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Western Illinois University?

Western Illinois University has an acceptance rate of 71.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Western Illinois University cost?

The average net price after aid at Western Illinois University is $12,937 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Western Illinois University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,163 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,937 per year. That's roughly 4.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Western Illinois University known for?

Western Illinois University is best known for its programs in Criminal Justice, Information Systems, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Western Illinois University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Illinois University are $54,163, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Western Illinois University accredited?

Yes. Western Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Western Illinois University?

Western Illinois University enrolls 4,410 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Western Illinois University?

Western Illinois University graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Western Illinois University a public or private college?

Western Illinois University is a Public institution.

Where is Western Illinois University located?

Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois.

What programs does Western Illinois University offer?

Western Illinois University offers 98 distinct programs. The most popular include Criminal Justice, Information Systems, Liberal Arts.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Illinois University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Illinois University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.