Western Illinois University vs. Indiana State

Deciding between Western Illinois University and Indiana State 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.

Western Illinois University
Indiana State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • Indiana State Terre Haute, IN
  • Setting
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • Indiana State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • Indiana State 7,895
  • Type
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • Indiana State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • Indiana State
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Western Illinois University -
  • Indiana State -
  • Status
  • Western Illinois University Non-profit
  • Indiana State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Western Illinois University
  • Indiana State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Indiana State $10,258
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Indiana State $22,322
  • Room & Board
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • Indiana State $12,262
  • Average Net Price
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • Indiana State $12,066
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • Indiana State $12,383
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Indiana State 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • Indiana State 12,134
  • Admitted
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • Indiana State 9,801
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • Indiana State 80.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • Indiana State 14.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • Indiana State
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • Indiana State
  • Average High School GPA
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • Indiana State 3.29
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • Indiana State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • Indiana State Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • Indiana State
  • ACT Range
  • Western Illinois University 18/24
  • Indiana State
  • SAT Range
  • Western Illinois University 880/1090
  • Indiana State
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • Indiana State Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Western Illinois University
  • Indiana State
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • Indiana State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Indiana State
    • Business (14%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Indiana State 42%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • Indiana State $40,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • Indiana State 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • Indiana State $23,720
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • Indiana State $245
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Western Illinois University 41%
  • Indiana State 43%
  • % Women
  • Western Illinois University 59%
  • Indiana State 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Western Illinois University Medium
  • Indiana State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Western Illinois University No
  • Indiana State No
  • % White
  • Western Illinois University 62%
  • Indiana State 66%
  • % Asian
  • Western Illinois University 1%
  • Indiana State 1%
  • % Black
  • Western Illinois University 19%
  • Indiana State 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • Western Illinois University 11%
  • Indiana State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • Indiana State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • Indiana State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • Indiana State 4%
  • % International
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • Indiana State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • Indiana State 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Western Illinois University 86%
  • Indiana State 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Western Illinois University 13%
  • Indiana State 13%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana State University is larger than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (7,895 students vs. 6,332 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting); Indiana State University is in Terre Haute, IN (Small City setting).
  • Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; Indiana State University 16:1.

Western Illinois University vs. Indiana State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or Indiana State? 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 Indiana State University than Western Illinois University ($12,066 vs. $14,208).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 7.7% lower than at Indiana State University ($11,320 vs. $12,262).
  • Western Illinois University is 48.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Indiana State (about $5,006 more per year; $15,264.00 vs. $10,258.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.2% higher at Indiana State than at Western Illinois University (about $7,058 more per year; $22,322.00 vs. $15,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana State University than at Western Illinois University (97% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 21.1% larger than aid received by Indiana State University students ($14,994 vs. $12,383).

Western Illinois University vs. Indiana State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or Indiana State? 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 Indiana State and Western Illinois University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Illinois University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Western Illinois University - Test-free; Indiana State - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Indiana State (3.29).
  • Indiana State has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Western Illinois University (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Western Illinois University vs. 14.5% at Indiana State.

Western Illinois University vs. Indiana State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Western Illinois University and Indiana State? 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 Illinois University's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Indiana State University's (42%).
  • Graduates from Western Illinois University earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Indiana State graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,000 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana State University graduates have a $984 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($23,720 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, Indiana State graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($245 vs. $255).
  • More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Indiana State students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 51%)

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.