Western Illinois University vs. Allen College

Should I go to Western Illinois University or Allen College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western Illinois University or Allen College 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Western Illinois University vs. Allen College comparison
Western Illinois University Allen College College 3 College 4
Western Illinois University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Western Illinois University Allen College
Location Macomb, IL Waterloo, IA
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 7,073 489
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #663
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu allencollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Illinois University Allen College
Tuition (In State) $9,801 $19,516
Tuition (Out of State) $9,801 $19,516
Room & Board $10,920 $8,800
Avg Net Price $12,168 -
Avg Grant Aid $15,620 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 53% 0%

Admission

Western Illinois University Allen College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,479 -
Admitted 6,356 -
Acceptance Rate 75%
Enrolled % 15.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Western Illinois University Allen College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Health Professions (100%)

Outcomes

Western Illinois University Allen College
Graduation Rate 53% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $49,100
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $16,750
Median Loan Payment $255 $173

Diversity

Western Illinois University Allen College
% Men 12% 6%
% Women 17% 37%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 87%
% Black 19% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

Western Illinois University Allen College
% In-State 90% 100%
% Out-of-State 8% 0%

Campus

Western Illinois University Allen College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Illinois University is larger than than Allen College based on total student enrollment (7,073 students vs. 489 students)

Western Illinois University vs. Allen College Cost Comparison

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

  • Allen College is 99.1% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($19,516.00 vs. $9,801.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 99.1% higher at Allen College than Western Illinois University ($19,516.00 vs. $9,801.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allen College are 24.1% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($8,800 vs. $10,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Illinois University than Allen College (53% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is ?% larger than aid received Allen College ($15,620 vs. $0)

Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or Allen College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Allen College or Western Illinois University .

Western Illinois University vs. Allen College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Illinois University or Allen College? 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 Allen College and Western Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Allen College (53% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Allen College earn on average $3,100 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($49,100 vs. $46,000)
  • Allen College students graduate with a $7,954 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($16,750 vs. $24,704)
  • Allen College graduates are paying $82 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($173 vs. $255)
  • More Allen College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/