Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
EIU Northern Illinois ISU Southern Illinois University Indiana State SIUE University of Illinois at Springfield Central UIC Cleveland State Illinois Bradley| Western Illinois University | Purdue University Northwest | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Western Illinois University | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Location | Macomb, IL | Hammond, Indiana | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 7,073 | 8,679 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #663 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wiu.edu | pnw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Western Illinois University | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,801 | $7,594 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,801 | $14,795 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,920 | $9,097 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,168 | $9,637 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,620 | $6,420 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 53% | 85% |
Admission |
Western Illinois University | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,479 | 6,394 | ||
| Admitted | 6,356 | 4,516 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75% | 70.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.2% | 26.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.45 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 16/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 880/1090 | 920/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Western Illinois University | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Western Illinois University | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,000 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | - | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,704 | N/A | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $255 | N/A |
Diversity |
Western Illinois University | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | - | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 0% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 0% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 0% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Western Illinois University | Purdue Northwest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 14% | ||
Campus |
Western Illinois University | Purdue Northwest | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Purdue University Northwest is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (8,679 students vs. 7,073 students)
Western Illinois University vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or Purdue Northwest?
- Western Illinois University is 29.1% more expensive to attend than Purdue Northwest for in-state tuition ($9,801.00 vs. $7,594.00)
- Out of state tuition is 51% higher at Purdue Northwest than Western Illinois University ($14,795.00 vs. $9,801.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than Western Illinois University ($9,637 vs. $12,168)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 20% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($9,097 vs. $10,920)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Purdue University Northwest than Western Illinois University (85% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 143.3% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($15,620 vs. $6,420)
Western Illinois University vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or Purdue Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Northwest or Western Illinois University .
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19)
- Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Purdue Northwest (70.6%)
Western Illinois University vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Western Illinois University or Purdue Northwest? 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 Purdue Northwest and Western Illinois University.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/