UIC vs. Western Illinois University

University of Illinois Chicago and Western Illinois University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Illinois Chicago
Western Illinois University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Western Illinois University (71.2% admitted vs 77.4%). Typical SAT 990 vs 1240.
  • Cheaper after aid: UIC. Average net price is $10,852 vs $14,208 at Western Illinois University.
  • Graduation: UIC 54% vs Western Illinois University 53%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UIC $61,900 vs Western Illinois University $46,000 (median).
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Key differences

University of Illinois Chicago Western Illinois University
Acceptance rate
Western Illinois University more selective
UIC77.4%
Western Illinois University71.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UIC higher
UIC1130-1350
Western Illinois University880-1090
Average net price
UIC $3,356 less
UIC$10,852
Western Illinois University$14,208
In-state tuition
UIC $926 less
UIC$14,338
Western Illinois University$15,264
Out-of-state tuition
Western Illinois University $14,620 less
UIC$29,884
Western Illinois University$15,264
Graduation rate
UIC +1 pts
UIC54%
Western Illinois University53%
Median earnings (10 years)
UIC +$15,900
UIC$61,900
Western Illinois University$46,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • Acceptance rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • Typical high school grades
  • UIC B+
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • Admissions standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • UIC
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • SAT range
  • UIC 1130-1350
  • Western Illinois University 880-1090
  • ACT range
  • UIC 25-31
  • Western Illinois University 18-24
  • Submit test scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Western Illinois University
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Room & board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • Average net price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • Average grant aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Graduation rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • Median loan payment
  • UIC $193
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • Popular majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Western Illinois University #571

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL with Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 6,332 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Western Illinois University is in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Western Illinois University 12:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 31.4% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($11,320 vs. $16,500).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 95.8% higher at UIC than at Western Illinois University (about $14,620 more per year; $29,884 vs. $15,264).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Chicago than at Western Illinois University (74% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 11.7% larger than aid received by Western Illinois University students ($16,755 vs. $14,994).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 7 points higher at UIC than at Western Illinois University (28 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at UIC, test-free at Western Illinois University.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Western Illinois University average a 3.45 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at UIC (3.41).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 10.3% at Western Illinois University.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $5,954 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($18,750 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($193 vs. $255).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation (68% vs. 61%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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