Criminal justice
Ranked #25 of 379 for valueCriminal Justice and Corrections · 166 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $63,125
- Ranked-college median: $55,481
- Median debt
- $22,250
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Western Illinois University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 71.2% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 5,187 of 7,156 applicants were admitted. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 4,410
Larger than 75% of colleges
National median 1,603
Western Illinois UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
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Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where Western Illinois University sits for you.
Take the fit quizAdmissions
Western Illinois University admitted 71.2% of 7,156 applicants.
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Applicants7,156
71.2% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted5,187
17.4% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)905
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$10,018
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- Tuition & fees
- $15,466
- Average net price
- $10,018
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 30.4%
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- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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A PDF that applies the 2026–27 federal aid rules to you and up to three colleges: Pell Grant, loan limits, the gap left and repayment.
Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
49.4%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
61.4%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$57,175
Former students who received federal aid
Programs at Western Illinois University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Western Illinois University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Business
Ranked #165 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 56 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $70,021
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $20,168
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Communications
Ranked #234 of 388 for valueCommunication and Media Studies · 43 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $51,203
- Ranked-college median: $56,130
- Median debt
- $20,000
- Ranked-college median: $19,593
Accounting
Ranked #263 of 408 for valueAccounting and Related Services · 35 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $71,059
- Ranked-college median: $76,108
- Median debt
- $24,249
- Ranked-college median: $20,500
Nursing
Ranked #265 of 686 for valueRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 39 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $86,694
- Ranked-college median: $85,171
- Median debt
- $24,598
- Ranked-college median: $20,938
Computer science
Ranked #271 of 466 for valueComputer and Information Sciences, General · 32 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $92,824
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $24,875
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Education
Ranked #288 of 521 for valueTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 53 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $43,279
- Ranked-college median: $48,822
- Median debt
- $16,624
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Biology
Ranked #470 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 36 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $50,855
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $21,000
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Psychology
Ranked #616 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 76 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $44,683
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $24,296
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
4,410
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Master's university
A College or University that also has a large number of Master’s Degree programs.
Colleges like Western Illinois University
Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston, IL
Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago, IL
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL, United States
- Public
- Master's university
Remote town
In a smaller urban cluster away from a large metro area.
- City
- Suburb
- Town (this campus)
- Rural
Nearest major citySt. Louis, MO · about 130 mi
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Semester
- Website
- wiu.edu
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Western Illinois University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $10,018 a year after aid
Athletics
NCAA Division I · The largest programs and athletic scholarships; big-time game days.
- D-INCAA Division I (this college)
- D-IINCAA Division II
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
Tagged by CollegesRef editors as a big-time athletics school.
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Western Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University, side by side.
Compare with Eastern Illinois UniversityFrequently asked questions
What is the Western Illinois University acceptance rate for 2026?
Western Illinois University admitted 71.2% of 7,156 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Western Illinois University tuition?
Tuition at Western Illinois University is $15,466 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $10,018 a year.
What is the average net price at Western Illinois University?
The average net price at Western Illinois University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $10,018 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Western Illinois University?
49.4% of first-time, full-time students at Western Illinois University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Western Illinois University?
The closest matches are Eastern Illinois University, Northeastern Illinois University, and Northern Illinois University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
