Western Illinois University vs. KU

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

 Western Illinois University KU
Location Macomb, IL Lawrence, KS
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 7,643 26,708
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #579 #252
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu ku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Western Illinois University KU
Tuition (In State) $9,515 $10,092
Tuition (Out of State) $9,515 $26,960
Room & Board $10,500 $10,136
Avg Net Price $11,213 $18,950
Avg Grant Aid $15,632 $11,140
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 87%

Admission

 Western Illinois University KU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,219 16,204
Admitted 6,914 14,234
Acceptance Rate 75% 87.8%
Enrolled % 15.5% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 21/28
SAT Range 880/1090 1090/1340
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 15, 2024

Academics

 Western Illinois University KU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

 Western Illinois University KU
Graduation Rate 53% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $255 $211

Diversity

 Western Illinois University KU
% Men 43% 45%
% Women 57% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 72%
% Black 19% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 Western Illinois University KU
% In-State 89% 58%
% Out-of-State 10% 39%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than Western Illinois University based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 7,643 students)

Western Illinois University vs. KU Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Kansas is 6.1% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 183.3% higher at KU than Western Illinois University ($26,960.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than KU ($11,213 vs. $18,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 3.6% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($10,136 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Illinois University than University of Kansas (94% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 40.3% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($15,632 vs. $11,140)

Western Illinois University vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 175 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming KU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Western Illinois University vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at KU is higher than Western Illinois University (61% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $8,600 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $46,000)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $4,204 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,704)
  • KU graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Western Illinois University graduates. ($211 vs. $255)
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 61%)

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