Western Illinois University vs. Purdue Northwest

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

Western Illinois University Purdue Northwest
Location Macomb, IL Hammond, Indiana
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,643 8,911
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #579
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu pnw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Illinois University Purdue Northwest
Tuition (In State) $9,515 $7,373
Tuition (Out of State) $9,515 $14,364
Room & Board $10,500 $8,215
Avg Net Price $11,213 $9,162
Avg Grant Aid $15,632 $7,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 75%

Admission

Western Illinois University Purdue Northwest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,219 5,670
Admitted 6,914 4,129
Acceptance Rate 75% 72.8%
Enrolled % 15.5% 31.3%
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 18/24
SAT Range 880/1090 950/1170
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, 2025

Academics

Western Illinois University Purdue Northwest
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

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 43% 44%
% Women 57% 56%
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 89% 87%
% Out-of-State 10% 13%

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 (8,911 students vs. 7,643 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 ($9,515.00 vs. $7,373.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51% higher at Purdue Northwest than Western Illinois University ($14,364.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than Western Illinois University ($9,162 vs. $11,213)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 27.8% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($8,215 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Illinois University than Purdue University Northwest (94% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 121.1% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($15,632 vs. $7,070)

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 (72.8%)

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/