Illinois College vs. Western Illinois University

Should I go to Illinois College or Western Illinois University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois College 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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Illinois College vs. Western Illinois University comparison
Illinois College Western Illinois University College 3 College 4
Illinois College Western Illinois University
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Overview

Illinois College Western Illinois University
Location Jacksonville, IL Macomb, IL
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,029 7,643
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #687 #579
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ic.edu wiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Illinois College Western Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $35,796 $9,515
Tuition (Out of State) $35,796 $9,515
Room & Board $9,964 $10,500
Avg Net Price $16,296 $11,213
Avg Grant Aid $29,785 $15,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

Illinois College Western Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,243 9,219
Admitted 2,503 6,914
Acceptance Rate 77.2% 75%
Enrolled % 9.3% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 18/24
SAT Range 960/1126 880/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

Illinois College Western Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Illinois College Western Illinois University
Graduation Rate 57% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,300 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,704
Median Loan Payment $279 $255

Diversity

Illinois College Western Illinois University
% Men 47% 43%
% Women 53% 57%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 62%
% Black 12% 19%
% Hispanic 10% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Illinois College Western Illinois University
% In-State 70% 89%
% Out-of-State 21% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Illinois University is larger than than Illinois College based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 1,029 students)

Illinois College vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois College or Western Illinois University?

  • Illinois College is 276.2% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($35,796.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 276.2% higher at Illinois College than Western Illinois University ($35,796.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Illinois College ($11,213 vs. $16,296)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois College are 5.4% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($9,964 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois College than Western Illinois University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois College students is 90.5% larger than aid received Western Illinois University ($29,785 vs. $15,632)

Illinois College vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois College 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 Illinois College .

  • Accepted freshman Illinois College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • Illinois College has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Illinois College vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois College 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 Illinois College.

  • The graduation rate at Illinois College is higher than Western Illinois University (57% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $700 more per year than Illinois College graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $45,300)
  • Western Illinois University students graduate with a $2,296 lower median federal student loan debt than Illinois College graduates. ($24,704 vs. $27,000)
  • Western Illinois University graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Illinois College graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 61%)

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