Western Illinois University vs. IPFW

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

Western Illinois University IPFW
Location Macomb, IL Fort Wayne, IN
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 7,643 9,069
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #579 #848
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu ipfw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Illinois University IPFW
Tuition (In State) $9,515 $7,815
Tuition (Out of State) $9,515 $20,403
Room & Board $10,500 $10,111
Avg Net Price $11,213 $11,951
Avg Grant Aid $15,632 $7,432
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

Western Illinois University IPFW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,219 5,853
Admitted 6,914 4,721
Acceptance Rate 75% 80.7%
Enrolled % 15.5% 25.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 20/26
SAT Range 880/1090 980/1210
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Western Illinois University IPFW
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

Western Illinois University IPFW
Graduation Rate 53% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $38,600
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 51%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $255 $253

Diversity

Western Illinois University IPFW
% Men 43% 48%
% Women 57% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 82%
% Black 19% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Western Illinois University IPFW
% In-State 89% 85%
% Out-of-State 10% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (9,069 students vs. 7,643 students)

Western Illinois University vs. IPFW Cost Comparison

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

  • Western Illinois University is 21.8% more expensive to attend than IPFW for in-state tuition ($9,515.00 vs. $7,815.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 114.4% higher at IPFW than Western Illinois University ($20,403.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than IPFW ($11,213 vs. $11,951)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne are 3.8% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($10,111 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne than Western Illinois University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 110.3% larger than aid received Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ($15,632 vs. $7,432)

Western Illinois University vs. IPFW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Illinois University or IPFW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between IPFW or Western Illinois University .

  • The average SAT score at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (995) is 25 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming IPFW 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 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at IPFW (3.37)
  • IPFW has a higher acceptance rate (80.7%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Western Illinois University vs. IPFW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Illinois University or IPFW? 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 IPFW and Western Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (53% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $7,400 more per year than IPFW graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $38,600)
  • Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne students graduate with a $204 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($24,500 vs. $24,704)
  • IPFW graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($253 vs. $255)
  • More Western Illinois University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IPFW 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/