Eureka College vs. Western Illinois University

Should I go to Eureka College or Western Illinois University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Eureka College or Western Illinois University 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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Eureka College vs. Western Illinois University comparison
Eureka College Western Illinois University College 3 College 4
Eureka College Western Illinois University
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Overview

 Eureka College Western Illinois University
Location Eureka, IL Macomb, IL
Setting Town Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 559 7,643
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #579
Religious Affiliation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eureka.edu wiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Eureka College Western Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $27,450 $9,515
Tuition (Out of State) $27,450 $9,515
Room & Board $10,353 $10,500
Avg Net Price $19,443 $11,213
Avg Grant Aid $19,367 $15,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

 Eureka College Western Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 934 9,219
Admitted 810 6,914
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 75%
Enrolled % 18.6% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.22 3.45
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 18/24
SAT Range 870/1155 880/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Eureka College Western Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • History (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 Eureka College Western Illinois University
Graduation Rate 65% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,800 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,375 $24,704
Median Loan Payment $262 $255

Diversity

 Eureka College Western Illinois University
% Men 53% 43%
% Women 47% 57%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 84% 62%
% Black 5% 19%
% Hispanic 3% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 Eureka College Western Illinois University
% In-State 85% 89%
% Out-of-State 14% 10%

Campus

 Eureka College Western Illinois University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Illinois University is larger than than Eureka College based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 559 students)

Eureka College vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Eureka College or Western Illinois University?

  • Eureka College is 188.5% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($27,450.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 188.5% higher at Eureka College than Western Illinois University ($27,450.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Eureka College ($11,213 vs. $19,443)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eureka College are 1.4% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($10,353 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eureka College than Western Illinois University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eureka College students is 23.9% larger than aid received Western Illinois University ($19,367 vs. $15,632)

Eureka College vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Eureka College (1033) is 63 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming Eureka College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Eureka College (3.22)
  • Eureka College has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Eureka College vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Eureka College or Western Illinois University? 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 Western Illinois University and Eureka College.

  • The graduation rate at Eureka College is higher than Western Illinois University (65% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $7,200 more per year than Eureka College graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $38,800)
  • Western Illinois University students graduate with a $671 lower median federal student loan debt than Eureka College graduates. ($24,704 vs. $25,375)
  • Western Illinois University graduates are paying $7 less per month on federal student loans than Eureka College graduates. ($255 vs. $262)
  • More Eureka College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 61%)

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