Southern Illinois University vs. Western Illinois University

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

Southern Illinois University Western Illinois University
Location Carbondale, IL Macomb, IL
Setting Rural Fringe Remote Town
Enrollment 11,107 7,643
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #467 #579
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website siuc.edu wiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southern Illinois University Western Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $9,638 $9,515
Tuition (Out of State) $9,638 $9,515
Room & Board $10,622 $10,500
Avg Net Price $16,990 $11,213
Avg Grant Aid $11,269 $15,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 94%

Admission

Southern Illinois University Western Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,771 9,219
Admitted 8,940 6,914
Acceptance Rate 91.5% 75%
Enrolled % 17% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.45
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27 18/24
SAT Range 900/1140 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

Southern Illinois University Western Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Southern Illinois University Western Illinois University
Graduation Rate 44% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,800 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $24,704
Median Loan Payment $232 $255

Diversity

Southern Illinois University Western Illinois University
% Men 49% 43%
% Women 51% 57%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 64% 62%
% Black 19% 19%
% Hispanic 8% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Southern Illinois University Western Illinois University
% In-State 81% 89%
% Out-of-State 17% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (11,107 students vs. 7,643 students)

Southern Illinois University vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison

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

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is 1.3% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($9,638.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.3% higher at Southern Illinois University than Western Illinois University ($9,638.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than Southern Illinois University ($11,213 vs. $16,990)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 1.2% lower than costs at Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($10,500 vs. $10,622)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than Western Illinois University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 38.7% larger than aid received Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($15,632 vs. $11,269)

Southern Illinois University vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern Illinois University 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 Illinois University .

  • The average SAT score at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (1032) is 62 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming Southern Illinois University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Western Illinois University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Southern Illinois University (3.24)
  • Southern Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Southern Illinois University vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southern Illinois University 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 Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (53% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn on average $1,800 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $46,000)
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale students graduate with a $2,204 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,704)
  • Southern Illinois University graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($232 vs. $255)
  • More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 51%)

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