Western Illinois University vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Should I go to Western Illinois University or Gustavus Adolphus College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western Illinois University or Gustavus Adolphus 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. Gustavus Adolphus College comparison
Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College College 3 College 4
Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College
Location Macomb, IL Saint Peter, MN
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 7,643 2,072
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #579
Religious Affiliation - Evangelical Lutheran Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu gustavus.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College
Tuition (In State) $9,515 $52,490
Tuition (Out of State) $9,515 $52,490
Room & Board $10,500 $11,010
Avg Net Price $11,213 $30,297
Avg Grant Aid $15,632 $32,808
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 94%

Admission

Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,219 3,781
Admitted 6,914 2,794
Acceptance Rate 75% 73.9%
Enrolled % 15.5% 16.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.69
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 880/1090
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College
Graduation Rate 53% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $279

Diversity

Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College
% Men 43% 45%
% Women 57% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 83%
% Black 19% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Western Illinois University Gustavus Adolphus College
% In-State 89% 79%
% Out-of-State 10% 15%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Illinois University is larger than than Gustavus Adolphus College based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 2,072 students)

Western Illinois University vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

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

  • Gustavus Adolphus College is 451.7% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($52,490.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 451.7% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than Western Illinois University ($52,490.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Gustavus Adolphus College ($11,213 vs. $30,297)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 4.9% lower than costs at Gustavus Adolphus College ($10,500 vs. $11,010)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Western Illinois University as Gustavus Adolphus College (94% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 109.9% larger than aid received Western Illinois University ($32,808 vs. $15,632)

Western Illinois University vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (73.9%)

Western Illinois University vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Illinois University or Gustavus Adolphus 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 Gustavus Adolphus College and Western Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Gustavus Adolphus College is higher than Western Illinois University (82% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn on average $10,300 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $46,000)
  • Western Illinois University students graduate with a $2,296 lower median federal student loan debt than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates. ($24,704 vs. $27,000)
  • Western Illinois University graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 61%)

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