ISU vs. WMU

Deciding between Illinois State University and Western Michigan University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Illinois State University
Western Michigan University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • WMU Kalamazoo, MI
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • WMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • WMU 16,744
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • WMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • WMU #643
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • WMU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • WMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • WMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • WMU $15,252
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • WMU $19,034
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • WMU $12,174
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • WMU $17,331
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • WMU $11,048
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • WMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • WMU 21,701
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • WMU 18,359
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • WMU 84.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • WMU 13.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • WMU 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • WMU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • WMU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • WMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • WMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • WMU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • WMU 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • WMU 990/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • WMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • WMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • WMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • WMU
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Engineering (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • WMU 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • WMU $48,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • WMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • WMU $26,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • WMU $275

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • WMU 46%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • WMU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • WMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • WMU No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • WMU 72%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • WMU 2%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • WMU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • WMU 5%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • WMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • WMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • WMU 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • WMU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • WMU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • WMU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • WMU 21%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ISU Yes
  • WMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ISU No
  • WMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ISU Yes
  • WMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ISU No
  • WMU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ISU Yes
  • WMU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than WMU based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 16,744 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Western Michigan University is in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Western Michigan University 16:1.

ISU vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or WMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than ISU ($17,331 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 3.4% lower than at Western Michigan University ($11,754 vs. $12,174).
  • Illinois State University is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than WMU (about $892 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $15,252.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.2% higher at ISU than at Western Michigan University (about $9,176 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $19,034.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Western Michigan University (96% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Western Michigan University students ($12,974 vs. $11,048).

ISU vs. WMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or WMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WMU and ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Michigan University (1110) is 10 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at WMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Western Michigan University 990/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Western Michigan University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; WMU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than WMU (84.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 13.5% at WMU.

ISU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and WMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Illinois State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Western Michigan University's (56%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $100 more per year than WMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $4,633 lower median loan debt than WMU graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,633).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WMU graduates ($227 vs. $275).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.