Concordia University Chicago vs. Western Illinois University

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

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Concordia University Chicago vs. Western Illinois University comparison
Concordia University Chicago Western Illinois University College 3 College 4
Western Illinois University
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Overview

Concordia University Chicago Western Illinois University
Location River Forest, IL Macomb, IL
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 5,354 7,643
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #706 #579
Religious Affiliation Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cuchicago.edu wiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Concordia University Chicago Western Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $33,944 $9,515
Tuition (Out of State) $33,944 $9,515
Room & Board $10,762 $10,500
Avg Net Price $18,832 $11,213
Avg Grant Aid $25,141 $15,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

Concordia University Chicago Western Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,296 9,219
Admitted 3,997 6,914
Acceptance Rate 93% 75%
Enrolled % 6.7% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.18 3.45
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 990/1180 880/1090
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

Concordia University Chicago Western Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (34%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Concordia University Chicago Western Illinois University
Graduation Rate 60% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,300 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,951 $24,704
Median Loan Payment $257 $255

Diversity

Concordia University Chicago Western Illinois University
% Men 35% 43%
% Women 65% 57%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 54% 62%
% Black 13% 19%
% Hispanic 26% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Concordia University Chicago Western Illinois University
% In-State 62% 89%
% Out-of-State 38% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Illinois University is larger than than Concordia University Chicago based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 5,354 students)

Concordia University Chicago vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Concordia University Chicago or Western Illinois University?

  • Concordia University Chicago is 256.7% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($33,944.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 256.7% higher at Concordia University Chicago than Western Illinois University ($33,944.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Concordia University Chicago ($11,213 vs. $18,832)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 2.5% lower than costs at Concordia University Chicago ($10,500 vs. $10,762)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Concordia University Chicago than Western Illinois University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Chicago students is 60.8% larger than aid received Western Illinois University ($25,141 vs. $15,632)

Concordia University Chicago vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Concordia University Chicago (1047) is 77 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming Concordia University Chicago 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 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Concordia University Chicago (3.18)
  • Concordia University Chicago has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Concordia University Chicago vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Concordia University Chicago or Western Illinois University? 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 Western Illinois University and Concordia University Chicago.

  • The graduation rate at Concordia University Chicago is higher than Western Illinois University (60% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Concordia University Chicago graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $42,300)
  • Western Illinois University students graduate with a $247 lower median federal student loan debt than Concordia University Chicago graduates. ($24,704 vs. $24,951)
  • Western Illinois University graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Concordia University Chicago graduates. ($255 vs. $257)
  • More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Concordia University Chicago students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 57%)

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