Western Illinois University vs. UW-Eau Claire

Should I go to Western Illinois University or University of Wisconsin Eau Claire? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western Illinois University or UW-Eau Claire 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. University of Wisconsin Eau Claire comparison
Western Illinois University University of Wisconsin Eau Claire College 3 College 4
Western Illinois University University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
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Overview

 Western Illinois University UW-Eau Claire
Location Macomb, IL Eau Claire, WI
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 7,073 9,991
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #663 #563
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu uwec.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Western Illinois University UW-Eau Claire
Tuition (In State) $9,801 $7,645
Tuition (Out of State) $9,801 $16,884
Room & Board $10,920 $9,200
Avg Net Price $12,168 $15,323
Avg Grant Aid $15,620 $3,800
% Receiving Grant Aid 53% 60%

Admission

 Western Illinois University UW-Eau Claire
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,479 10,315
Admitted 6,356 7,848
Acceptance Rate 75% 76.1%
Enrolled % 15.2% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 21/26
SAT Range 880/1090
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 UW-Eau Claire
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Western Illinois University UW-Eau Claire
Graduation Rate 53% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $47,900
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $255 $240

Diversity

 Western Illinois University UW-Eau Claire
% Men 12% 3%
% Women 17% 4%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 89%
% Black 19% 1%
% Hispanic 11% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Western Illinois University UW-Eau Claire
% In-State 90% 67%
% Out-of-State 8% 32%

Campus

 Western Illinois University UW-Eau Claire
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (9,991 students vs. 7,073 students)

Western Illinois University vs. UW-Eau Claire Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or UW-Eau Claire?

  • Western Illinois University is 28.2% more expensive to attend than UW-Eau Claire for in-state tuition ($9,801.00 vs. $7,645.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 72.3% higher at UW-Eau Claire than Western Illinois University ($16,884.00 vs. $9,801.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than UW-Eau Claire ($12,168 vs. $15,323)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire are 18.7% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($9,200 vs. $10,920)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire than Western Illinois University (60% vs. 53%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 311.1% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Eau Claire ($15,620 vs. $3,800)

Western Illinois University vs. UW-Eau Claire Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or UW-Eau Claire? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UW-Eau Claire or Western Illinois University .

  • The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (1110) is 140 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming UW-Eau Claire students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
  • Accepted freshman UW-Eau Claire students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • UW-Eau Claire has a higher acceptance rate (76.1%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Western Illinois University vs. UW-Eau Claire Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Illinois University or UW-Eau Claire? 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 UW-Eau Claire and Western Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at UW-Eau Claire is higher than Western Illinois University (65% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn on average $1,900 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($47,900 vs. $46,000)
  • University of Wisconsin Eau Claire students graduate with a $1,454 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,704)
  • UW-Eau Claire graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($240 vs. $255)
  • More UW-Eau Claire graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/