University of St Francis vs. Western Illinois University

Deciding between University of St Francis and Western Illinois 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 St Francis
Western Illinois University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of St Francis Joliet, IL
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • Setting
  • University of St Francis Midsize City
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of St Francis 3,074
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • Type
  • University of St Francis Private 4 Year
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of St Francis #355
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of St Francis Roman Catholic
  • Western Illinois University -
  • Status
  • University of St Francis Non-profit
  • Western Illinois University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of St Francis
  • Western Illinois University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of St Francis $38,110
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of St Francis $38,110
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Room & Board
  • University of St Francis $11,980
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • Average Net Price
  • University of St Francis $14,045
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of St Francis $31,998
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of St Francis 100%
  • Western Illinois University 53%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of St Francis Calculate
  • Western Illinois University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of St Francis 2,250
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • Admitted
  • University of St Francis 1,469
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of St Francis 65.3%
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • University of St Francis 14.2%
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of St Francis 1130
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of St Francis 26
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of St Francis 3.47
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of St Francis B+
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of St Francis Challenging
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of St Francis Low
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of St Francis 20/32
  • Western Illinois University 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • University of St Francis 1030/1220
  • Western Illinois University 880/1090
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of St Francis Test optional
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • University of St Francis Aug 1, 2027
  • Western Illinois University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of St Francis 15:1
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of St Francis
    • Health Professions (41%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of St Francis 63%
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of St Francis $50,600
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of St Francis 62%
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of St Francis $25,000
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of St Francis $258
  • Western Illinois University $255

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of St Francis 27%
  • Western Illinois University 41%
  • % Women
  • University of St Francis 73%
  • Western Illinois University 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of St Francis Medium
  • Western Illinois University Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of St Francis No
  • Western Illinois University No
  • % White
  • University of St Francis 67%
  • Western Illinois University 62%
  • % Asian
  • University of St Francis 2%
  • Western Illinois University 1%
  • % Black
  • University of St Francis 8%
  • Western Illinois University 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of St Francis 16%
  • Western Illinois University 11%
  • % Native American
  • University of St Francis 0%
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of St Francis 0%
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of St Francis 3%
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • % International
  • University of St Francis 2%
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of St Francis 1%
  • Western Illinois University 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of St Francis 91%
  • Western Illinois University 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of St Francis 9%
  • Western Illinois University 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of St Francis No
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of St Francis No
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • Learn More
  • University of St Francis Details
  • Western Illinois University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare University of St Francis in Joliet, IL with Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Illinois University is larger than University of St Francis based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 3,074 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of St Francis is located in Joliet, IL (Midsize City setting); Western Illinois University is in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting).
  • University of St Francis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of St Francis 15:1; Western Illinois University 12:1.

University of St Francis vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of St Francis or Western Illinois University? 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 St Francis than Western Illinois University ($14,045 vs. $14,208).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 5.5% lower than at University of St Francis ($11,320 vs. $11,980).
  • University of St Francis is 149.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Illinois University (about $22,846 more per year; $38,110.00 vs. $15,264.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 149.7% higher at University of St Francis than at Western Illinois University (about $22,846 more per year; $38,110.00 vs. $15,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of St Francis than at Western Illinois University (100% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Francis students is 113.4% larger than aid received by Western Illinois University students ($31,998 vs. $14,994).

University of St Francis vs. Western Illinois University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of St Francis or Western Illinois University? 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 Western Illinois University and University of St Francis.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of St Francis (1130) is 140 points higher than at Western Illinois University (990).
  • Incoming University of St Francis students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 21 at Western Illinois University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of St Francis 1030/1220; Western Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of St Francis 20/32; Western Illinois University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of St Francis - Test optional; Western Illinois University - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of St Francis Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of St Francis students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45).
  • Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than University of St Francis (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at University of St Francis vs. 10.3% at Western Illinois University.

University of St Francis vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of St Francis and Western Illinois University? 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).

  • University of St Francis's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Western Illinois University's (53%).
  • Graduates from University of St Francis earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Illinois University graduates have a $296 lower median loan debt than University of St Francis graduates ($24,704 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Western Illinois University graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of St Francis graduates ($255 vs. $258).
  • More University of St Francis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 61%)

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.