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EIU Northern Illinois ISU UW-La Crosse Wisconsin University of Phoenix-Madison Campus UWO UW-Eau Claire University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Southern Illinois University UW-Green Bay UWSP| Western Illinois University | University of Wisconsin Milwaukee | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Western Illinois University | UWM | ||
| Location | Macomb, IL | Milwaukee, WI | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,073 | 22,481 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #663 | #845 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wiu.edu | uwm.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Western Illinois University | UWM | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,801 | $8,455 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,801 | $20,455 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,920 | $10,980 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,168 | $16,499 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,620 | $5,305 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 53% | 83% |
Admission |
Western Illinois University | UWM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,479 | 16,662 | ||
| Admitted | 6,356 | 14,736 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75% | 88.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.2% | 22.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.45 | 3.16 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 19/24 | ||
| 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 | Sep 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Western Illinois University | UWM | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Western Illinois University | UWM | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 40% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,000 | $46,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,704 | $24,958 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $255 | $258 |
Diversity |
Western Illinois University | UWM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Western Illinois University | UWM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 10% | ||
Campus |
Western Illinois University | UWM | ||
| 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 Milwaukee is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (22,481 students vs. 7,073 students)
Western Illinois University vs. UWM Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or UWM?
- Western Illinois University is 15.9% more expensive to attend than UWM for in-state tuition ($9,801.00 vs. $8,455.00)
- Out of state tuition is 108.7% higher at UWM than Western Illinois University ($20,455.00 vs. $9,801.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than UWM ($12,168 vs. $16,499)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 0.5% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($10,920 vs. $10,980)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee than Western Illinois University (83% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 194.4% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Milwaukee ($15,620 vs. $5,305)
Western Illinois University vs. UWM Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or UWM? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UWM or Western Illinois University .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (1050) is 80 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
- Incoming UWM students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at UWM (3.16)
- UWM has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than Western Illinois University (75%)
Western Illinois University vs. UWM Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Western Illinois University or UWM? 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 UWM and Western Illinois University.
- The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (53% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn on average $100 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $46,000)
- Western Illinois University students graduate with a $254 lower median federal student loan debt than UWM graduates. ($24,704 vs. $24,958)
- Western Illinois University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than UWM graduates. ($255 vs. $258)
- More UWM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 61%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/