Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
EIU Northern Illinois ISU Southern Illinois University UIC North Park University Indiana State CSU SIUE University of Illinois at Springfield Central DePaul| Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | ||
| Location | Chicago, IL | Macomb, IL | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 5,504 | 7,073 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #736 | #663 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | neiu.edu | wiu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,343 | $9,801 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $20,686 | $9,801 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,742 | $10,920 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,669 | $12,168 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,560 | $15,620 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 53% |
Admission |
Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,481 | 8,479 | ||
| Admitted | 5,971 | 6,356 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 70.4% | 75% | ||
| Enrolled % | 9.3% | 15.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.1 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 15/21 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 810/1010 | 880/1090 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 14:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 23% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,000 | $46,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 56% | 61% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $14,500 | $24,704 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $149 | $255 |
Diversity |
Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 18% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 33% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 37% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Northeastern Illinois University | Western Illinois University | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Illinois University is larger than than Northeastern Illinois University based on total student enrollment (7,073 students vs. 5,504 students)
Northeastern Illinois University vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Northeastern Illinois University or Western Illinois University?
- Northeastern Illinois University is 5.5% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($10,343.00 vs. $9,801.00)
- Out of state tuition is 111.1% higher at Northeastern Illinois University than Western Illinois University ($20,686.00 vs. $9,801.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Northeastern Illinois University ($12,168 vs. $14,669)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Illinois University are 1.7% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($10,742 vs. $10,920)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northeastern Illinois University than Western Illinois University (85% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 24.4% larger than aid received Northeastern Illinois University ($15,620 vs. $12,560)
Northeastern Illinois University vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern Illinois University 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 Northeastern Illinois University .
- The average SAT score at Western Illinois University (970) is 100 points higher than at Northeastern Illinois University (870)
- Incoming Western Illinois University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (18)
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (3.1)
- Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Northeastern Illinois University (70.4%)
Northeastern Illinois University vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Northeastern Illinois University 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 Northeastern Illinois University.
- The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Northeastern Illinois University (53% vs. 23%)
- Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $6,000 more per year than Northeastern Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $40,000)
- Northeastern Illinois University students graduate with a $10,204 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($14,500 vs. $24,704)
- Northeastern Illinois University graduates are paying $106 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($149 vs. $255)
- More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/