Illinois College vs. WKU

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

Illinois College WKU
Location Jacksonville, IL Bowling Green, KY
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,029 16,493
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #687 #875
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ic.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Illinois College WKU
Tuition (In State) $35,796 $11,112
Tuition (Out of State) $35,796 $27,000
Room & Board $9,964 $11,072
Avg Net Price $16,296 $12,625
Avg Grant Aid $29,785 $10,260
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Illinois College WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,243 7,505
Admitted 2,503 7,276
Acceptance Rate 77.2% 96.9%
Enrolled % 9.3% 37.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 18/25
SAT Range 960/1126 980/1170
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Illinois College WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Illinois College WKU
Graduation Rate 57% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,300 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $250

Diversity

Illinois College WKU
% Men 47% 37%
% Women 53% 63%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 76%
% Black 12% 10%
% Hispanic 10% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 3% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Illinois College WKU
% In-State 70% 70%
% Out-of-State 21% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than Illinois College based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 1,029 students)

Illinois College vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois College or WKU?

  • Illinois College is 222.1% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($35,796.00 vs. $11,112.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.6% higher at Illinois College than Western Kentucky University ($35,796.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Illinois College ($12,625 vs. $16,296)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois College are 11.1% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($9,964 vs. $11,072)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois College than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois College students is 190.3% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($29,785 vs. $10,260)

Illinois College vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Illinois College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at WKU (3.42)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Illinois College (77.2%)

Illinois College vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois College or WKU? 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 WKU and Illinois College.

  • The graduation rate at Illinois College is higher than Western Kentucky University (57% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Illinois College earn on average $8,200 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($45,300 vs. $37,100)
  • Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Illinois College graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
  • WKU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Illinois College graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
  • More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 47%)

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