Western Illinois University vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Western Illinois University and University of Wisconsin River Falls side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Western Illinois University
University of Wisconsin River Falls

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Western Illinois University (71.2% admitted vs 81.7%). Typical SAT 990 vs N/A.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $14,208 at Western Illinois University vs $14,769 at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Western Illinois University in-state tuition is about $6,256 more per year.
  • Graduation: Western Illinois University 53% vs University of Wisconsin-River Falls 51%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Western Illinois University $46,000 vs University of Wisconsin-River Falls $44,100 (median).
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Key differences

Western Illinois University University of Wisconsin River Falls
Acceptance rate
Western Illinois University more selective
Western Illinois University71.2%
University of Wisconsin-River Falls81.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Western Illinois University higher
Western Illinois University880-1090
University of Wisconsin-River Falls-
Average net price
About even
Western Illinois University$14,208
University of Wisconsin-River Falls$14,769
In-state tuition
University of Wisconsin-River Falls $6,256 less
Western Illinois University$15,264
University of Wisconsin-River Falls$9,008
Out-of-state tuition
Western Illinois University $2,206 less
Western Illinois University$15,264
University of Wisconsin-River Falls$17,470
Graduation rate
Western Illinois University +2 pts
Western Illinois University53%
University of Wisconsin-River Falls51%
Median earnings (10 years)
Western Illinois University +$1,900
Western Illinois University$46,000
University of Wisconsin-River Falls$44,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

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Check my chances at Western Illinois University Check my chances at University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Admission chances
  • Western Illinois University My Chances
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls My Chances
  • Applied
  • Western Illinois University 8,674
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,519
  • Admitted
  • Western Illinois University 6,174
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 4,510
  • Acceptance rate
  • Western Illinois University 71.2%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Western Illinois University 10.3%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 25.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Western Illinois University 990
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Typical ACT score
  • Western Illinois University 21
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 22
  • Average high school GPA
  • Western Illinois University 3.45
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 3.44
  • Typical high school grades
  • Western Illinois University B+
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Western Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Western Illinois University Low
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • SAT range
  • Western Illinois University 880-1090
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • ACT range
  • Western Illinois University 18-24
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19-25
  • Submit test scores
  • Western Illinois University Test-free
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Western Illinois University
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $9,008
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Western Illinois University $15,264
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $17,470
  • Room & board
  • Western Illinois University $11,320
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $7,982
  • Average net price
  • Western Illinois University $14,208
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $14,769
  • Average grant aid
  • Western Illinois University $14,994
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $4,176
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 81%
  • Graduation rate
  • Western Illinois University 53%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 51%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Western Illinois University $46,000
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $44,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Western Illinois University 61%
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 75%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Western Illinois University $24,704
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $22,725
  • Median loan payment
  • Western Illinois University $255
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls $234
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Western Illinois University 12:1
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • Western Illinois University
    • Business (16%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls
    • Agriculture (17%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Western Illinois University Macomb, IL
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI
  • Setting
  • Western Illinois University Remote Town
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Western Illinois University 6,332
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5,243
  • Type
  • Western Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Western Illinois University #571
  • University of Wisconsin-River Falls #768

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL with University of Wisconsin River Falls in River Falls, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Western Illinois University is larger than University of Wisconsin-River Falls based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 5,243 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL (Remote Town setting); University of Wisconsin River Falls is in River Falls, WI (Distant Town setting).
  • Western Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin River Falls is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Illinois University 12:1; University of Wisconsin River Falls 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin River Falls are 29.5% lower than at Western Illinois University ($7,982 vs. $11,320).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.5% higher at University of Wisconsin-River Falls than at Western Illinois University (about $2,206 more per year; $17,470 vs. $15,264).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin River Falls than at Western Illinois University (81% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Illinois University students is 259.1% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin River Falls students ($14,994 vs. $4,176).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at University of Wisconsin-River Falls than at Western Illinois University (22 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Western Illinois University, test optional at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Western Illinois University average a 3.45 high school GPA, 0.01 higher than at University of Wisconsin-River Falls (3.44).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.3% at Western Illinois University vs. 25.1% at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin River Falls graduates have a $1,979 lower median loan debt than Western Illinois University graduates ($22,725 vs. $24,704).
  • Among borrowers, University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Illinois University graduates ($234 vs. $255).
  • More University of Wisconsin-River Falls graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation (75% vs. 61%).

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

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