Illinois College vs. UWM

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL with University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is larger than Illinois College based on total student enrollment (22,450 students vs. 942 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, IL (Distant Town setting); University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
• Illinois College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois College 12:1; University of Wisconsin Milwaukee 17:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee are 2.8% lower than at Illinois College ($11,684 vs. $12,026).
• Out-of-state tuition is 72.7% higher at Illinois College than at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (about $16,278 more per year; $38,676 vs. $22,398).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois College than at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois College students is 398% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Milwaukee students ($31,609 vs. $6,347).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Illinois College than at UWM (22 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Illinois College and UWM.
• Typical fall application deadline: UWM Sep 1, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at Illinois College average a 3.63 high school GPA, 0.47 higher than at UWM (3.16).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.2% at Illinois College vs. 23.8% at UWM.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates have a $2,042 lower median loan debt than Illinois College graduates ($24,958 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UWM graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Illinois College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UWM students, three years after graduation (79% vs. 62%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.