Western Illinois University vs. Columbia College

Western Illinois University and Columbia College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Western Illinois University
Columbia College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Western Illinois University. Average net price is $14,208 vs $21,530 at Columbia College.
  • Graduation: Western Illinois University 53% vs Columbia College 39%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Western Illinois University $46,000 vs Columbia College $41,800 (median).
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Key differences

Western Illinois University Columbia College
Acceptance rate
Western Illinois University more selective
Western Illinois University71.2%
Columbia College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
Western Illinois University higher
Western Illinois University880-1090
Columbia College-
Average net price
Western Illinois University $7,322 less
Western Illinois University$14,208
Columbia College$21,530
In-state tuition
Western Illinois University $10,562 less
Western Illinois University$15,264
Columbia College$25,826
Out-of-state tuition
Western Illinois University $10,562 less
Western Illinois University$15,264
Columbia College$25,826
Graduation rate
Western Illinois University +14 pts
Western Illinois University53%
Columbia College39%
Median earnings (10 years)
Western Illinois University +$4,200
Western Illinois University$46,000
Columbia College$41,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • Columbia College -
  • Admitted
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • Columbia College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • Columbia College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • Columbia College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • Columbia College
  • Average high school GPA
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • Typical high school grades
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • Columbia College A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • Columbia College
  • SAT range
  • Western Illinois University 880-1090
  • Columbia College
  • ACT range
  • Western Illinois University 18-24
  • Columbia College
  • Submit test scores
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Western Illinois University
  • Columbia College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • Room & board
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • Average net price
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • Average grant aid
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Columbia College 91%
  • Graduation rate
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • Columbia College 39%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • Columbia College 40%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • Median loan payment
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • Columbia College $227
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)
  • Location
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • Setting
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • Type
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • Columbia College

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with Columbia College in Columbia, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Western Illinois University is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 5,689 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting).
  • Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; Columbia College 20:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 15.6% lower than at Western Illinois University ($9,552 vs. $11,320).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.2% higher at Columbia College than at Western Illinois University (about $10,562 more per year; $25,826 vs. $15,264).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Western Illinois University (91% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Western Illinois University students ($15,882 vs. $14,994).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Western Illinois University, open admission at Columbia College.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Columbia College average a 3.59 high school GPA, 0.14 higher than at Western Illinois University (3.45).

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $2,670 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($22,034 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($227 vs. $255).
  • More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation (61% vs. 40%).

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

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