Western Illinois University vs. UNOMAHA

Deciding between Western Illinois University and University of Nebraska at Omaha? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Western Illinois University
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • UNOMAHA Omaha, NE
  • Setting
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • UNOMAHA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • UNOMAHA 14,972
  • Type
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • UNOMAHA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • UNOMAHA #640
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Western Illinois University -
  • UNOMAHA -
  • Status
  • Western Illinois University Non-profit
  • UNOMAHA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Western Illinois University
  • UNOMAHA
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • UNOMAHA $8,718
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • UNOMAHA $23,206
  • Room & Board
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • UNOMAHA $12,130
  • Average Net Price
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • UNOMAHA $13,662
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • UNOMAHA $7,883
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • UNOMAHA 74%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • UNOMAHA 9,246
  • Admitted
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • UNOMAHA 8,042
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • UNOMAHA 87%
  • Enrolled
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • UNOMAHA 26.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • UNOMAHA
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • UNOMAHA 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • UNOMAHA 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • UNOMAHA B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • UNOMAHA Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • UNOMAHA
  • ACT Range
  • Western Illinois University 18/24
  • UNOMAHA 18/26
  • SAT Range
  • Western Illinois University 880/1090
  • UNOMAHA
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • UNOMAHA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Western Illinois University
  • UNOMAHA Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • UNOMAHA 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • UNOMAHA
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • UNOMAHA 43%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • UNOMAHA $46,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • UNOMAHA 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • UNOMAHA $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • UNOMAHA $201
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Western Illinois University 41%
  • UNOMAHA 43%
  • % Women
  • Western Illinois University 59%
  • UNOMAHA 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Western Illinois University Medium
  • UNOMAHA Medium
  • HBCU
  • Western Illinois University No
  • UNOMAHA No
  • % White
  • Western Illinois University 62%
  • UNOMAHA 69%
  • % Asian
  • Western Illinois University 1%
  • UNOMAHA 3%
  • % Black
  • Western Illinois University 19%
  • UNOMAHA 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Western Illinois University 11%
  • UNOMAHA 11%
  • % Native American
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • UNOMAHA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • UNOMAHA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • UNOMAHA 4%
  • % International
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • UNOMAHA 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • UNOMAHA 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Western Illinois University 86%
  • UNOMAHA 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Western Illinois University 13%
  • UNOMAHA 10%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • UNOMAHA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • UNOMAHA No
  • Meal Plan
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • UNOMAHA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • UNOMAHA No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Western Illinois University Yes
  • UNOMAHA Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Nebraska at Omaha is larger than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (14,972 students vs. 6,332 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting); University of Nebraska at Omaha is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
  • Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; University of Nebraska at Omaha 15:1.

Western Illinois University vs. UNOMAHA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or UNOMAHA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nebraska at Omaha than Western Illinois University ($13,662 vs. $14,208).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 6.7% lower than at University of Nebraska at Omaha ($11,320 vs. $12,130).
  • Western Illinois University is 75.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNOMAHA (about $6,546 more per year; $15,264.00 vs. $8,718.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52% higher at UNOMAHA than at Western Illinois University (about $7,942 more per year; $23,206.00 vs. $15,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Nebraska at Omaha than at Western Illinois University (74% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 90.2% larger than aid received by University of Nebraska at Omaha students ($14,994 vs. $7,883).

Western Illinois University vs. UNOMAHA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or UNOMAHA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UNOMAHA and Western Illinois University.

  • Incoming UNOMAHA students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Western Illinois University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Illinois University 880/1090.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Illinois University 18/24; University of Nebraska at Omaha 18/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Western Illinois University - Test-free; UNOMAHA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNOMAHA Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at UNOMAHA (3.44).
  • UNOMAHA has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than Western Illinois University (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Western Illinois University vs. 26.3% at UNOMAHA.

Western Illinois University vs. UNOMAHA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Western Illinois University and UNOMAHA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Western Illinois University's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than University of Nebraska at Omaha's (43%).
  • Graduates from University of Nebraska at Omaha earn a median of about $600 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,600 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Nebraska at Omaha graduates have a $5,204 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, UNOMAHA graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($201 vs. $255).
  • More UNOMAHA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.