North Central College vs. Western Illinois University

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

North Central College Western Illinois University
Location Naperville, IL Macomb, IL
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 2,695 7,643
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #340 #579
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northcentralcollege.edu wiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Central College Western Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $42,866 $9,515
Tuition (Out of State) $42,866 $9,515
Room & Board $11,998 $10,500
Avg Net Price $25,285 $11,213
Avg Grant Aid $30,776 $15,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

North Central College Western Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,099 9,219
Admitted 3,104 6,914
Acceptance Rate 60.9% 75%
Enrolled % 15.6% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 18/24
SAT Range 1020/1240 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 15, 2025

Academics

North Central College Western Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

North Central College Western Illinois University
Graduation Rate 64% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $24,704
Median Loan Payment $258 $255

Diversity

North Central College Western Illinois University
% Men 47% 43%
% Women 53% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 62%
% Black 4% 19%
% Hispanic 11% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

North Central College Western Illinois University
% In-State 85% 89%
% Out-of-State 11% 10%

Campus

North Central 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 North Central College based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 2,695 students)

North Central College vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison

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

  • North Central College is 350.5% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($42,866.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 350.5% higher at North Central College than Western Illinois University ($42,866.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than North Central College ($11,213 vs. $25,285)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 14.3% lower than costs at North Central College ($10,500 vs. $11,998)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Central College than Western Illinois University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Central College students is 96.9% larger than aid received Western Illinois University ($30,776 vs. $15,632)

North Central College vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, North Central 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 North Central College .

  • The average SAT score at North Central College (1125) is 155 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming North Central College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
  • Accepted freshman North Central College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than North Central College (60.9%)

North Central College vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Central 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 North Central College.

  • The graduation rate at North Central College is higher than Western Illinois University (64% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from North Central College earn on average $2,900 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $46,000)
  • Western Illinois University students graduate with a $296 lower median federal student loan debt than North Central College graduates. ($24,704 vs. $25,000)
  • Western Illinois University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than North Central College graduates. ($255 vs. $258)
  • More North Central College 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/