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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC EIU DePaul IWU WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU IUPUI| Illinois State University | Western Illinois University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | Western Illinois University | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Macomb, IL | ||
| Setting | Small City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 7,073 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #663 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | wiu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | Western Illinois University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $9,801 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $9,801 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $10,920 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | $12,168 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $15,620 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 53% |
Admission |
ISU | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | 8,479 | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | 6,356 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 75% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | 15.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 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 | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | Western Illinois University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | Western Illinois University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $46,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $24,704 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $255 |
Diversity |
ISU | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
ISU | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 8% | ||
Campus |
ISU | Western Illinois University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 7,073 students)
ISU vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or Western Illinois University?
- Illinois State University is 23.1% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($12,066.00 vs. $9,801.00)
- Out of state tuition is 146.2% higher at ISU than Western Illinois University ($24,131.00 vs. $9,801.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than ISU ($12,168 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 6.1% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,920 vs. $11,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Western Illinois University (96% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 34.8% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($15,620 vs. $11,590)
ISU vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU 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 ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 120 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
- Incoming ISU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than Western Illinois University (75%)
ISU vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU 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 ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Western Illinois University (71% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $3,000 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $46,000)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $2,704 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,704)
- ISU graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($227 vs. $255)
- More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/