Western Illinois University vs. Loras College

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

 Western Illinois University Loras College
Location Macomb, IL Dubuque, IA
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 7,643 1,319
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #579
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu loras.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Western Illinois University Loras College
Tuition (In State) $9,515 $34,750
Tuition (Out of State) $9,515 $34,750
Room & Board $10,500 $9,230
Avg Net Price $11,213 $21,886
Avg Grant Aid $15,632 $25,538
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

 Western Illinois University Loras College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,219 1,860
Admitted 6,914 1,671
Acceptance Rate 75% 89.8%
Enrolled % 15.5% 17.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.48
Typical High School Grades B+ 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

Academics

 Western Illinois University Loras College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 Western Illinois University Loras College
Graduation Rate 53% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $279

Diversity

 Western Illinois University Loras College
% Men 43% 55%
% Women 57% 45%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 84%
% Black 19% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 Western Illinois University Loras College
% In-State 89% 35%
% Out-of-State 10% 60%

Campus

 Western Illinois University Loras 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 Loras College based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 1,319 students)

Western Illinois University vs. Loras College Cost Comparison

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

  • Loras College is 265.2% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($34,750.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 265.2% higher at Loras College than Western Illinois University ($34,750.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Loras College ($11,213 vs. $21,886)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Loras College are 13.8% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($9,230 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Loras College than Western Illinois University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Loras College students is 63.4% larger than aid received Western Illinois University ($25,538 vs. $15,632)

Western Illinois University vs. Loras College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Loras College (1088) is 118 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming Loras College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Loras College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • Loras College has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Western Illinois University vs. Loras College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Illinois University or Loras 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 Loras College and Western Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Loras College is higher than Western Illinois University (59% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Loras College earn on average $3,200 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($49,200 vs. $46,000)
  • Western Illinois University students graduate with a $2,296 lower median federal student loan debt than Loras College graduates. ($24,704 vs. $27,000)
  • Western Illinois University graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Loras College graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More Loras College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 61%)

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