Western Illinois University vs. Kansas City Art Institute

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Illinois University is larger than Kansas City Art Institute based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting); Kansas City Art Institute is in Kansas City, MO (Large City setting).
• Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kansas City Art Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; Kansas City Art Institute 10:1.

Western Illinois University vs. Kansas City Art Institute Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or Kansas City Art Institute? 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 Western Illinois University than Kansas City Art Institute ($14,208 vs. $27,650).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 17.1% lower than at Kansas City Art Institute ($11,320 vs. $13,651).
• Kansas City Art Institute is 191.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Illinois University (about $29,286 more per year; $44,550.00 vs. $15,264.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 191.9% higher at Kansas City Art Institute than at Western Illinois University (about $29,286 more per year; $44,550.00 vs. $15,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas City Art Institute than at Western Illinois University (100% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kansas City Art Institute students is 98.5% larger than aid received by Western Illinois University students ($29,760 vs. $14,994).

Western Illinois University vs. Kansas City Art Institute Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or Kansas City Art Institute? 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 Kansas City Art Institute 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; Kansas City Art Institute - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Kansas City Art Institute (3.32).
• Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than Kansas City Art Institute (54.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Western Illinois University vs. 35.1% at Kansas City Art Institute.

Western Illinois University vs. Kansas City Art Institute Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Western Illinois University and Kansas City Art Institute? 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).

• Kansas City Art Institute's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Western Illinois University's (53%).
• Graduates from Western Illinois University earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than Kansas City Art Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,000 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Illinois University graduates have a $2,296 lower median loan debt than Kansas City Art Institute graduates ($24,704 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Western Illinois University graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kansas City Art Institute graduates ($255 vs. $279).
• More Kansas City Art Institute 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.