UIC vs. WMU

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago 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.

University of Illinois Chicago
Western Michigan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • WMU Kalamazoo, MI
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • WMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • WMU 16,744
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • WMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • WMU #643
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • WMU -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • WMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • WMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • WMU $15,252
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • WMU $19,034
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • WMU $12,174
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • WMU $17,331
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • WMU $11,048
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • WMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • WMU 21,701
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • WMU 18,359
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • WMU 84.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • WMU 13.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • WMU 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • WMU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • WMU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • WMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • WMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • WMU
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • WMU 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • WMU 990/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • WMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • WMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • WMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • WMU
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Engineering (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • WMU 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • WMU $48,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • WMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • WMU $26,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • WMU $275

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 44%
  • WMU 46%
  • % Women
  • UIC 56%
  • WMU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • WMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • WMU No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • WMU 72%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • WMU 2%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • WMU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • WMU 5%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • WMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • WMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • WMU 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • WMU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • WMU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • WMU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • WMU 21%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than WMU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 16,744 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Western Michigan University is in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Western Michigan University 16:1.

UIC vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC 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 University of Illinois Chicago than WMU ($10,852 vs. $17,331).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 26.2% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($12,174 vs. $16,500).
  • Western Michigan University is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UIC (about $914 more per year; $15,252.00 vs. $14,338.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57% higher at UIC than at Western Michigan University (about $10,850 more per year; $29,884.00 vs. $19,034.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Michigan University than at University of Illinois Chicago (94% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 51.7% larger than aid received by Western Michigan University students ($16,755 vs. $11,048).

UIC vs. WMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC 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 UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Illinois Chicago (1240) is 130 points higher than at WMU (1110).
  • Incoming UIC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 23 at WMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; Western Michigan University 990/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; Western Michigan University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Test optional; WMU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than UIC (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 13.5% at WMU.

UIC vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC 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).

  • Western Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than WMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $7,883 lower median loan debt than WMU graduates ($18,750 vs. $26,633).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WMU graduates ($193 vs. $275).
  • More UIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.