Western Illinois University vs. Purdue Calumet

Should I go to Western Illinois University or Purdue University Calumet Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western Illinois University or Purdue Calumet 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Western Illinois University vs. Purdue University Calumet Campus comparison
Western Illinois University Purdue University Calumet Campus College 3 College 4
Western Illinois University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Western Illinois University Purdue Calumet
Location Macomb, IL Hammond, IN
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,643 9,194
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #579
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu purduecal.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Illinois University Purdue Calumet
Tuition (In State) $9,515 $6,746
Tuition (Out of State) $9,515 $16,164
Room & Board $10,500 $7,560
Avg Net Price $11,213 $10,908
Avg Grant Aid $15,632 $5,703
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 58%

Admission

Western Illinois University Purdue Calumet
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,219 2,810
Admitted 6,914 1,649
Acceptance Rate 75% 58.7%
Enrolled % 15.5% 54%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 880/1090 940/1140
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Required
Application Deadline

Academics

Western Illinois University Purdue Calumet
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Western Illinois University Purdue Calumet
Graduation Rate 53% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $20,908
Median Loan Payment $255 $216

Diversity

Western Illinois University Purdue Calumet
% Men 43% 0%
% Women 57% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 55%
% Black 19% 13%
% Hispanic 11% 19%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Western Illinois University Purdue Calumet
% In-State 89% -
% Out-of-State 10% -

Campus

Western Illinois University Purdue Calumet
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Calumet Campus is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (9,194 students vs. 7,643 students)

Western Illinois University vs. Purdue Calumet Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or Purdue Calumet?

  • Western Illinois University is 41% more expensive to attend than Purdue Calumet for in-state tuition ($9,515.00 vs. $6,746.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 69.9% higher at Purdue Calumet than Western Illinois University ($16,164.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Calumet Campus than Western Illinois University ($10,908 vs. $11,213)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Calumet Campus are 38.9% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($7,560 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Illinois University than Purdue University Calumet Campus (94% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 174.1% larger than aid received Purdue University Calumet Campus ($15,632 vs. $5,703)

Western Illinois University vs. Purdue Calumet Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Illinois University (970) is 10 points higher than at Purdue Calumet (960)
  • Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Purdue Calumet (3.19)
  • Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Purdue Calumet (58.7%)

Western Illinois University vs. Purdue Calumet Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Illinois University or Purdue Calumet? 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 Purdue Calumet and Western Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Purdue University Calumet Campus (53% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $3,500 more per year than Purdue Calumet graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $42,500)
  • Purdue University Calumet Campus students graduate with a $3,796 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($20,908 vs. $24,704)
  • Purdue Calumet graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($216 vs. $255)
  • More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue Calumet students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 38%)

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