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EIU Northern Illinois SHSU PVAMU TSU ISU UTSA UH Lamar University HBU Southern Illinois University Indiana State| Western Illinois University | University of Houston Downtown | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Western Illinois University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Location | Macomb, IL | Houston, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,643 | 14,208 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #579 | #951 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wiu.edu | uhd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Western Illinois University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,515 | $6,252 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,515 | $16,068 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,500 | $9,882 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,213 | $14,911 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,632 | $7,849 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 85% |
Admission |
Western Illinois University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 9,219 | 6,131 | ||
| Admitted | 6,914 | 5,421 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75% | 88.4%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.5% | 25.3%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.45 | 3.29 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 16/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 880/1090 | 960/1100 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Western Illinois University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Western Illinois University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 15% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,000 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 41% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,704 | $18,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $255 | $193 |
Diversity |
Western Illinois University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 17% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 23% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 43% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 1% | ||
| % International | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Western Illinois University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
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| % In-State | 89% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 1% | ||
Campus |
Western Illinois University | University of Houston-Downtown | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Houston Downtown is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (14,208 students vs. 7,643 students)
Western Illinois University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or University of Houston-Downtown?
- Western Illinois University is 52.2% more expensive to attend than University of Houston-Downtown for in-state tuition ($9,515.00 vs. $6,252.00)
- Out of state tuition is 68.9% higher at University of Houston-Downtown than Western Illinois University ($16,068.00 vs. $9,515.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than University of Houston-Downtown ($11,213 vs. $14,911)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston Downtown are 6.3% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($9,882 vs. $10,500)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Illinois University than University of Houston Downtown (94% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 99.2% larger than aid received University of Houston Downtown ($15,632 vs. $7,849)
Western Illinois University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or University of Houston-Downtown? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Houston-Downtown or Western Illinois University .
- The average SAT score at Western Illinois University (970) is 76 points higher than at University of Houston-Downtown (894)
- Incoming Western Illinois University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at University of Houston-Downtown (18)
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at University of Houston-Downtown (3.29)
- University of Houston-Downtown has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Western Illinois University (75%)
Western Illinois University vs. University of Houston-Downtown Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Western Illinois University or University of Houston-Downtown? 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 University of Houston-Downtown and Western Illinois University.
- The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than University of Houston Downtown (53% vs. 15%)
- Graduates from University of Houston Downtown earn on average $1,400 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $46,000)
- University of Houston Downtown students graduate with a $5,954 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($18,750 vs. $24,704)
- University of Houston-Downtown graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($193 vs. $255)
- More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Houston-Downtown students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 41%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/