Western Illinois University vs. UW-Platteville

Deciding between Western Illinois University and University of Wisconsin Platteville? 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 Wisconsin Platteville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • UW-Platteville Platteville, WI
  • Setting
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • UW-Platteville Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • UW-Platteville 6,389
  • Type
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • UW-Platteville Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • UW-Platteville #752
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Western Illinois University -
  • UW-Platteville -
  • Status
  • Western Illinois University Non-profit
  • UW-Platteville Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Western Illinois University
  • UW-Platteville
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • UW-Platteville $8,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • UW-Platteville $17,603
  • Room & Board
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • UW-Platteville $9,886
  • Average Net Price
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • UW-Platteville $16,266
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • UW-Platteville $4,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • UW-Platteville 78%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • UW-Platteville 4,934
  • Admitted
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • UW-Platteville 4,410
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • UW-Platteville 89.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • UW-Platteville 29.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • UW-Platteville
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • UW-Platteville 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • UW-Platteville 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • UW-Platteville B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • UW-Platteville Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • UW-Platteville
  • ACT Range
  • Western Illinois University 18/24
  • UW-Platteville 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • Western Illinois University 880/1090
  • UW-Platteville
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • UW-Platteville Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Western Illinois University
  • UW-Platteville
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • UW-Platteville 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • UW-Platteville
    • Engineering (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Agriculture (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • UW-Platteville 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • UW-Platteville $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • UW-Platteville 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • UW-Platteville $24,255
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • UW-Platteville $250
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Western Illinois University 41%
  • UW-Platteville 61%
  • % Women
  • Western Illinois University 59%
  • UW-Platteville 39%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Western Illinois University Medium
  • UW-Platteville Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Western Illinois University No
  • UW-Platteville No
  • % White
  • Western Illinois University 62%
  • UW-Platteville 90%
  • % Asian
  • Western Illinois University 1%
  • UW-Platteville 1%
  • % Black
  • Western Illinois University 19%
  • UW-Platteville 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Western Illinois University 11%
  • UW-Platteville 3%
  • % Native American
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • UW-Platteville 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Western Illinois University 0%
  • UW-Platteville 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • UW-Platteville 2%
  • % International
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • UW-Platteville 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Western Illinois University 2%
  • UW-Platteville 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Western Illinois University 86%
  • UW-Platteville 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Western Illinois University 13%
  • UW-Platteville 22%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with University of Wisconsin Platteville in Platteville, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Platteville is larger than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (6,389 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 Wisconsin Platteville is in Platteville, WI (Distant Town setting).
  • Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Platteville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; University of Wisconsin Platteville 20:1.

Western Illinois University vs. UW-Platteville Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or UW-Platteville? 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 Western Illinois University than UW-Platteville ($14,208 vs. $16,266).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Platteville are 12.7% lower than at Western Illinois University ($9,886 vs. $11,320).
  • Western Illinois University is 76.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-Platteville (about $6,620 more per year; $15,264.00 vs. $8,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.3% higher at UW-Platteville than at Western Illinois University (about $2,339 more per year; $17,603.00 vs. $15,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin Platteville than at Western Illinois University (78% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 213.7% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Platteville students ($14,994 vs. $4,780).

Western Illinois University vs. UW-Platteville Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or UW-Platteville? 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 UW-Platteville and Western Illinois University.

  • Incoming UW-Platteville students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 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 Wisconsin Platteville 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Western Illinois University - Test-free; UW-Platteville - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at UW-Platteville (3.39).
  • UW-Platteville has a higher acceptance rate (89.4%) than Western Illinois University (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Western Illinois University vs. 29.7% at UW-Platteville.

Western Illinois University vs. UW-Platteville Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Western Illinois University and UW-Platteville? 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 Wisconsin Platteville's (52%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Platteville graduates have a $449 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($24,255 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, UW-Platteville graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($250 vs. $255).
  • More UW-Platteville graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.