Western Illinois University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Share this school

About Western Illinois University

School Type: Public

Religious Affiliation: Not applicable

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: No

Accreditation: regional

Western Illinois University is a medium-sized public university located on a rural campus in Macomb, Illinois. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,394, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 72%. The university offers 71 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 51%, and a student-faculty ratio of 13:1. Tuition and fees for students are $8,886.

Macomb, IL

$8,886

Avg tuition

Let's Take the Next Step

Learn more about Western Illinois University to see if it's right for you.

Search all programs
BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

72%

Acceptance Rate Insight

72% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

72%

Retention Rate Insight

72% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

51%

Graduation Rate Insight

51% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scoresNot required or recommended

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankNot required or recommended

Letter of recommendationNot required or recommended

High school GPARequired

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRequired

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentYes

Credit for qualified life experience*Yes

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile-

SAT 25th-75th Percentile-

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

8k

Students enrolled

80%

Online student enrollment

13:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
HybridCheck Bold
InternationalCheck Bold

Demographics

White

58%

Unknown

2%

Black

17%

Hispanic

10%

Two or more races

2%

Non-U.S. Citizen

9%

Asian

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

52% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

52%

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

33

Total Online Enrollment

5,947

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

74% On-campus

26% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

CertificatesX BoldNot offered

AssociateX BoldNot offered

Bachelor'sCheck Bold24% online

Graduate CertificateCheck Bold46% online

Master'sCheck Bold24% online

DoctorateX BoldNot offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

68%

State Grant Aid

54%

Institution Grant Aid

94%

Pell Grant

52%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid$5,409
State Grant Aid$5,081
Institution Grant Aid$7,173
Pell Grant Aid$4,775

Financial Outlook

$25k

Average student debtafter graduation

$37k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FCS

5.4%

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

MenWomen
  • All Track Combined
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields.
2Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences.
3Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies.
4Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies.
5Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
6Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
7Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs.
8Communications Technologies/Technicians And Support Services.
9Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
10Education.
11Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
12Engineering.
13Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians.
14English Language And Literature/Letters.
15Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences.
16Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
17Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences.
18Health Professions And Related Programs.
19History
20History.
21Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services.
22Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities.
23Mathematics And Statistics.
24Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
25Natural Resources And Conservation.
26Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies.
27Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology.
28Philosophy And Religious Studies.
29Physical Sciences.
30Psychology.
31Public Administration And Social Service Professions.
32Security And Protective Services.
33Social Sciences.
34Visual And Performing Arts.

Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.