Elmhurst College vs. WMU

Should I go to Elmhurst College or Western Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elmhurst College or WMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Elmhurst College vs. Western Michigan University comparison
Elmhurst College Western Michigan University College 3 College 4
Elmhurst College Western Michigan University
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Overview

Elmhurst College WMU
Location Elmhurst, IL Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,731 17,000
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #380 #634
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elmhurst.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elmhurst College WMU
Tuition (In State) $39,862 $14,523
Tuition (Out of State) $39,862 $18,154
Room & Board $11,250 $11,102
Avg Net Price $24,108 $20,030
Avg Grant Aid $27,835 $6,813
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 93%

Admission

Elmhurst College WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,731 20,501
Admitted 4,356 17,334
Acceptance Rate 76% 84.6%
Enrolled % 14.2% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 19/27
SAT Range 980/1240 990/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Elmhurst College WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

Elmhurst College WMU
Graduation Rate 70% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,200 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $222 $275

Diversity

Elmhurst College WMU
% Men 38% 47%
% Women 62% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 72%
% Black 5% 12%
% Hispanic 17% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Elmhurst College WMU
% In-State 78% 79%
% Out-of-State 13% 19%

Campus

Elmhurst College WMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than Elmhurst College based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 3,731 students)

Elmhurst College vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elmhurst College or WMU?

  • Elmhurst College is 174.5% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($39,862.00 vs. $14,523.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 119.6% higher at Elmhurst College than Western Michigan University ($39,862.00 vs. $18,154.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than Elmhurst College ($20,030 vs. $24,108)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 1.3% lower than costs at Elmhurst College ($11,102 vs. $11,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elmhurst College than Western Michigan University (99% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmhurst College students is 308.6% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($27,835 vs. $6,813)

Elmhurst College vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elmhurst College or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or Elmhurst College .

  • The average SAT score at Elmhurst College (1090) is 60 points higher than at WMU (1030)
  • Incoming Elmhurst College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Elmhurst College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at WMU (3.5)
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Elmhurst College (76%)

Elmhurst College vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elmhurst College or WMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WMU and Elmhurst College.

  • The graduation rate at Elmhurst College is higher than Western Michigan University (70% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Elmhurst College earn on average $1,300 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($50,200 vs. $48,900)
  • Elmhurst College students graduate with a $5,133 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,633)
  • Elmhurst College graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($222 vs. $275)
  • More Elmhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/