Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Western Illinois University

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

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Western Illinois University
Location Magnolia, AR Macomb, IL
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 5,094 7,643
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #868 #579
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website saumag.edu wiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Western Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $7,020 $9,515
Tuition (Out of State) $12,450 $9,515
Room & Board $7,809 $10,500
Avg Net Price $14,056 $11,213
Avg Grant Aid $9,316 $15,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 94%

Admission

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Western Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,916 9,219
Admitted 1,855 6,914
Acceptance Rate 63.6% 75%
Enrolled % 38.1% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 18/24
SAT Range 905/1190 880/1090
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 27, 2024

Academics

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Western Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Western Illinois University
Graduation Rate 34% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,020 $24,704
Median Loan Payment $175 $255

Diversity

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Western Illinois University
% Men 45% 43%
% Women 55% 57%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 62%
% Black 28% 19%
% Hispanic 3% 11%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Western Illinois University
% In-State 70% 89%
% Out-of-State 29% 10%

Campus

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 5,094 students)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Western Illinois University?

  • Western Illinois University is 35.5% more expensive to attend than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus for in-state tuition ($9,515.00 vs. $7,020.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.8% higher at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Western Illinois University ($12,450.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($11,213 vs. $14,056)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 34.5% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($7,809 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Western Illinois University (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 67.8% larger than aid received Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($15,632 vs. $9,316)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus .

  • The average SAT score at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988) is 18 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Western Illinois University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (63.6%)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus.

  • The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (53% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $8,100 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $37,900)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $7,684 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($17,020 vs. $24,704)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $80 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($175 vs. $255)
  • More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 44%)

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