Western Illinois University vs. Madison College

Western Illinois University and Madison Area Technical College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Western Illinois University
Madison Area Technical College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Madison College. Average net price is $13,284 vs $14,208 at Western Illinois University.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Western Illinois University $46,000 vs Madison College $37,700 (median).
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Key differences

Western Illinois University Madison Area Technical College
Acceptance rate
Western Illinois University more selective
Western Illinois University71.2%
Madison College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Western Illinois University higher
Western Illinois University880-1090
Madison College-
Average net price
Madison College $924 less
Western Illinois University$14,208
Madison College$13,284
In-state tuition
Madison College $10,287 less
Western Illinois University$15,264
Madison College$4,977
Out-of-state tuition
Madison College $8,009 less
Western Illinois University$15,264
Madison College$7,255
Graduation rate
Western Illinois University +53 pts
Western Illinois University53%
Madison College-
Median earnings (10 years)
Western Illinois University +$8,300
Western Illinois University$46,000
Madison College$37,700

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • Madison College -
  • Admitted
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • Madison College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • Madison College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • Madison College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • Madison College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • Madison College
  • Average high school GPA
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • Madison College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • Madison College -
  • Admissions standards
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • Madison College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • Madison College
  • SAT range
  • Western Illinois University 880-1090
  • Madison College
  • ACT range
  • Western Illinois University 18-24
  • Madison College
  • Submit test scores
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • Madison College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Western Illinois University
  • Madison College Sep 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Madison College $4,977
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Madison College $7,255
  • Room & board
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • Madison College $17,760
  • Average net price
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • Madison College $13,284
  • Average grant aid
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • Madison College $5,872
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Madison College 36%
  • Graduation rate
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Madison College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • Madison College $37,700
  • Making student loan payments
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • Madison College 46%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • Madison College $13,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • Madison College $134
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • Madison College 14:1
  • Popular majors
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Madison College
    • Health Professions (61%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Engineering Technology (3%)
  • Location
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • Madison College Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • Madison College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • Madison College 13,641
  • Type
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • Madison College Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • Madison College

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with Madison Area Technical College in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Madison Area Technical College is larger than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (13,641 students vs. 6,332 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting); Madison Area Technical College is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Madison Area Technical College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; Madison Area Technical College 14:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 36.3% lower than at Madison Area Technical College ($11,320 vs. $17,760).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 110.4% higher at Western Illinois University than at Madison Area Technical College (about $8,009 more per year; $15,264 vs. $7,255).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Illinois University than at Madison Area Technical College (53% vs. 36%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 155.3% larger than aid received by Madison Area Technical College students ($14,994 vs. $5,872).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Western Illinois University, open admission at Madison College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Madison College Sep 30, 2026.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Madison Area Technical College graduates have a $11,704 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($13,000 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, Madison College graduates have an estimated $121 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($134 vs. $255).
  • More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Madison College students, three years after graduation (61% vs. 46%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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