Western Illinois University vs. USC Beaufort

Should I go to Western Illinois University or University of South Carolina Beaufort? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Western Illinois University or USC Beaufort 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Western Illinois University vs. University of South Carolina Beaufort comparison
Western Illinois University University of South Carolina Beaufort College 3 College 4
Western Illinois University University of South Carolina Beaufort
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Western Illinois University USC Beaufort
Location Macomb, IL Bluffton, SC
Setting Remote Town Distant Rural
Enrollment 7,643 2,124
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #579 #977
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wiu.edu uscb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Western Illinois University USC Beaufort
Tuition (In State) $9,515 $10,344
Tuition (Out of State) $9,515 $21,390
Room & Board $10,500 $8,722
Avg Net Price $11,213 $16,113
Avg Grant Aid $15,632 $8,452
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 98%

Admission

Western Illinois University USC Beaufort
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,219 2,479
Admitted 6,914 1,984
Acceptance Rate 75% 80%
Enrolled % 15.5% 24%
Avg High School GPA 3.45 3.82
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 17/22
SAT Range 880/1090 940/1110
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

Western Illinois University USC Beaufort
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (37%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

Western Illinois University USC Beaufort
Graduation Rate 53% 21%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,704 $24,474
Median Loan Payment $255 $253

Diversity

Western Illinois University USC Beaufort
% Men 43% 32%
% Women 57% 68%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 57%
% Black 19% 22%
% Hispanic 11% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

Western Illinois University USC Beaufort
% In-State 89% 79%
% Out-of-State 10% 18%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Illinois University is larger than than USC Beaufort based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 2,124 students)

Western Illinois University vs. USC Beaufort Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Illinois University or USC Beaufort?

  • University of South Carolina Beaufort is 8.7% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($10,344.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 124.8% higher at USC Beaufort than Western Illinois University ($21,390.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than USC Beaufort ($11,213 vs. $16,113)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Beaufort are 20.4% lower than costs at Western Illinois University ($8,722 vs. $10,500)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Beaufort than Western Illinois University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 85% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Beaufort ($15,632 vs. $8,452)

Western Illinois University vs. USC Beaufort Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Western Illinois University (970) is 43 points higher than at USC Beaufort (927)
  • Incoming Western Illinois University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at USC Beaufort (20)
  • Accepted freshman USC Beaufort students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • USC Beaufort has a higher acceptance rate (80%) than Western Illinois University (75%)

Western Illinois University vs. USC Beaufort Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Western Illinois University or USC Beaufort? 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 USC Beaufort and Western Illinois University.

  • The graduation rate at Western Illinois University is higher than University of South Carolina Beaufort (53% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from Western Illinois University earn on average $9,300 more per year than USC Beaufort graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $36,700)
  • University of South Carolina Beaufort students graduate with a $230 lower median federal student loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates. ($24,474 vs. $24,704)
  • USC Beaufort 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 USC Beaufort students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 50%)

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