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EIU Northern Illinois NSU ISU Morgan State Bowie State University RU North Carolina Central University Old Dominion Southern Illinois University Delaware State University Indiana State| Western Illinois University | Virginia State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Western Illinois University | VSU | ||
| Location | Macomb, IL | Petersburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 7,073 | 5,190 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #663 | #930 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wiu.edu | vsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Western Illinois University | VSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,801 | $5,540 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,801 | $17,038 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,920 | $12,966 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,168 | $16,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,620 | $12,300 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 53% | 92% |
Admission |
Western Illinois University | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,479 | 10,577 | ||
| Admitted | 6,356 | 9,424 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75% | 89.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.2% | 15.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.45 | 2.85 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 14/20 | ||
| SAT Range | 880/1090 | 800/1050 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Western Illinois University | VSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Western Illinois University | VSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 40% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $46,000 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 28% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,704 | $29,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $255 | $305 |
Diversity |
Western Illinois University | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 62% | 3% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 87% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 7% |
Students |
Western Illinois University | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 33% | ||
Campus |
Western Illinois University | VSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Western Illinois University is larger than than VSU based on total student enrollment (7,073 students vs. 5,190 students)
Western Illinois University vs. VSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or VSU?
- Western Illinois University is 76.9% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($9,801.00 vs. $5,540.00)
- Out of state tuition is 73.8% higher at VSU than Western Illinois University ($17,038.00 vs. $9,801.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than VSU ($12,168 vs. $16,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 18.7% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($10,920 vs. $12,966)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia State University than Western Illinois University (92% vs. 53%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 27% larger than aid received Virginia State University ($15,620 vs. $12,300)
Western Illinois University vs. VSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or VSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VSU or Western Illinois University .
- The average SAT score at Western Illinois University (970) is 113 points higher than at VSU (857)
- Incoming Western Illinois University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at VSU (18)
- Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at VSU (2.85)
- VSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Western Illinois University (75%)
Western Illinois University vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Western Illinois University or VSU? 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 VSU and Western Illinois University.
- The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Virginia State University (53% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $9,300 more per year than VSU graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $36,700)
- Western Illinois University students graduate with a $4,796 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($24,704 vs. $29,500)
- Western Illinois University graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($255 vs. $305)
- More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 28%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/