Western Illinois University vs. K-State

Should I go to Western Illinois University or Kansas State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western Illinois University or K-State 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.
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Western Illinois University vs. Kansas State University comparison
Western Illinois University Kansas State University College 3 College 4
Western Illinois University Kansas State University
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Overview

 Western Illinois University K-State
Location Macomb, IL Manhattan, KS
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 7,643 19,722
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #579
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu k-state.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Western Illinois University K-State
Tuition (In State) $9,515 $9,489
Tuition (Out of State) $9,515 $25,560
Room & Board $10,500 $10,100
Avg Net Price $11,213 $18,855
Avg Grant Aid $15,632 $8,537
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 89%

Admission

 Western Illinois University K-State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,219 9,706
Admitted 6,914 9,234
Acceptance Rate 75% 95.1%
Enrolled % 15.5% 31.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.77
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
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 required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Western Illinois University K-State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

 Western Illinois University K-State
Graduation Rate 53% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $49,700
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $255 $232

Diversity

 Western Illinois University K-State
% Men 43% 47%
% Women 57% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 78%
% Black 19% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 Western Illinois University K-State
% In-State 89% 75%
% Out-of-State 10% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Kansas State University is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (19,722 students vs. 7,643 students)

Western Illinois University vs. K-State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or K-State?

  • Western Illinois University is 0.3% more expensive to attend than K-State for in-state tuition ($9,515.00 vs. $9,489.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 168.6% higher at K-State than Western Illinois University ($25,560.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than K-State ($11,213 vs. $18,855)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kansas State University are 4% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($10,100 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Illinois University than Kansas State University (94% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 83.1% larger than aid received Kansas State University ($15,632 vs. $8,537)

Western Illinois University vs. K-State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • K-State has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Western Illinois University vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Illinois University or K-State? 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 K-State and Western Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at K-State is higher than Western Illinois University (56% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($49,700 vs. $46,000)
  • Kansas State University students graduate with a $2,204 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,704)
  • K-State graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($232 vs. $255)
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 61%)

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