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Northern Illinois Illinois CMU GVSU UIC Oakland DePaul EIU WSU Michigan State IWU Western Illinois University| Illinois State University | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | WMU | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 20,683 | 17,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #493 | #634 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,840 | $14,523 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,681 | $18,154 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,602 | $11,102 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,551 | $20,030 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,619 | $6,813 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 93% |
Admission |
ISU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,596 | 20,501 | ||
| Admitted | 16,899 | 17,334 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.2% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.6% | 15.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 19/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1210 | 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 | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
ISU | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $275 |
Diversity |
ISU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
ISU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 19% | ||
Campus |
ISU | WMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| 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 WMU based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 17,000 students)
ISU vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 22.7% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $11,840.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.4% higher at ISU than Western Michigan University ($23,681.00 vs. $18,154.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than ISU ($20,030 vs. $20,551)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 4.7% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,602 vs. $11,102)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Western Michigan University (97% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 70.5% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($11,619 vs. $6,813)
ISU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 60 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WMU (22)
- 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 (86.2%) than WMU (84.6%)
ISU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU 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 ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Western Michigan University (71% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $100 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $48,900)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $4,633 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $26,633)
- ISU graduates are paying $48 less per month on federal student loans 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/