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EIU Northern Illinois ISU Southern Illinois University Indiana State SIUE University of Illinois at Springfield Central UIC Cleveland State Illinois Bradley| Western Illinois University | Messenger College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Western Illinois University | Messenger College | ||
| Location | Macomb, IL | Joplin, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,073 | 26 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #663 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Other Protestant | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wiu.edu | messengercollege.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Western Illinois University | Messenger College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,801 | $9,600 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,801 | $9,600 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,920 | $12,635 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,168 | $18,221 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,620 | $7,978 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 53% | 100% |
Admission |
Western Illinois University | Messenger College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,479 | 14 | ||
| Admitted | 6,356 | 7 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75% | 50% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.2% | 100% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.45 | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| 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 | Jul 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Western Illinois University | Messenger College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 8:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Western Illinois University | Messenger College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 10% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,000 | $24,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 40% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,704 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $255 | N/A |
Diversity |
Western Illinois University | Messenger College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 19% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 35% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 54% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 8% |
Students |
Western Illinois University | Messenger College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 50% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 50% | ||
Campus |
Western Illinois University | Messenger College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Illinois University is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (7,073 students vs. 26 students)
Western Illinois University vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or Messenger College?
- Western Illinois University is 2.1% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($9,801.00 vs. $9,600.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.1% higher at Western Illinois University than Messenger College ($9,801.00 vs. $9,600.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Messenger College ($12,168 vs. $18,221)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 15.7% lower than costs at Messenger College ($10,920 vs. $12,635)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Messenger College than Western Illinois University (100% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 95.8% larger than aid received Messenger College ($15,620 vs. $7,978)
Western Illinois University vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or Messenger College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messenger College or Western Illinois University .
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Messenger College (2.9)
- Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Messenger College (50%)
Western Illinois University vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Western Illinois University or Messenger 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 Messenger College and Western Illinois University.
- The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Messenger College (53% vs. 10%)
- Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $22,000 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $24,000)
- More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 40%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/