Western Illinois University

Public four-year university in Macomb, IL that costs an average of $10,018 a year after financial aid, admits 71% of applicants and graduates 49% of full-time students.

Net price / year
$10,018
Acceptance rate
71%
Graduation rate
49%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$57,175

PublicTown (remote)4,410 undergraduates

Cost of Western Illinois University

Total cost of attendance (per year)$28,915
Tuition and fees, in-state$15,466
Housing and food (on campus)$11,888
Books and supplies$1,200
Average net price after aid$10,018

Net price by family income

Family incomeAverage net price / year
$0–30,000$3,427
$30,001–48,000$5,063
$48,001–75,000$7,229
$75,001–110,000$524
$110,001+$19,878

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Western Illinois University's net price calculator ↗.

Admissions

Acceptance rate71%
Test scoresNeither required nor recommended

Graduation, earnings and debt

Graduation rate49%
First-year retention61%
Median earnings 6 years after enrolling$46,562
Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$57,175
Rank in Illinois (earnings)45th of 65 similar colleges
Median debt of graduates$20,168
Typical monthly loan payment$229 (10-year plan)
Students with Pell grants30%
Students with federal loans36%

Majors and programs at Western Illinois University

Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.

Bachelor's degree programs (65)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Mechanical Engineering30$80,011—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing68$76,577$24,598
Construction Management19$63,363—
Business Administration, Management and Operations104$59,131$20,168
Human Resources Management and Services22$53,790—
Fire Protection28$50,432—
Computer and Information Sciences58$50,274$24,875
Marketing35$48,716—
Finance and Financial Management Services32$47,557—
Criminal Justice and Corrections363$46,564$22,250
Agriculture141$46,132$15,001
Health and Medical Administrative Services14$45,764—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities255$44,604$24,639
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas18$44,326—
Accounting and Related Services62$44,264$24,249
Political Science and Government30$44,170—
Communication and Media Studies80$42,576$20,000
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management36$41,172—
Music51$40,566$21,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods98$39,157$16,624
Psychology134$37,871$24,296
English Language and Literature29$37,323—
History17$37,292—
Social Work53$36,996$29,686
Biology78$36,282$21,000
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other39$35,140—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness40$32,920$29,590
Fine and Studio Arts39$30,666$22,847
Visual and Performing Arts, Other16$17,898—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions———
Anthropology17——
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology6——
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education1——
Business/Managerial Economics10——
Chemistry28——
Civil Engineering5——
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions2——
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services19——
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management9——
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services11——
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft5——
Economics1——
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research———
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering4——
Engineering2——
Engineering Technologies/Technicians32——
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences2——
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services2——
Geography and Cartography5——
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences3——
Graphic Communications1——
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other12——
Hospitality Administration/Management———
Journalism———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services16——
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods———
Mathematics7——
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies———
Physics8——
Public Health5——
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication———
Sociology39——
Special Education and Teaching11——
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations———
Student Counseling and Personnel Services———

Master's degree programs (37)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations162$82,675$25,371
Educational Administration and Supervision59$75,591—
Education25$64,654—
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management18$59,825—
Educational/Instructional Media Design28$55,939—
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services31$55,784$40,442
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas32$55,270—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods128$55,152$29,895
Criminal Justice and Corrections59$51,791—
Student Counseling and Personnel Services63$47,537$49,051
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness62$46,983—
Museology/Museum Studies18$36,378—
Accounting and Related Services16——
Behavioral Sciences46——
Biology19——
Chemistry25——
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology12——
Community Organization and Advocacy17——
Computer and Information Sciences401——
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft21——
Economics26——
English Language and Literature15——
Geography and Cartography24——
History11——
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians27——
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities1——
Mathematics17——
Music40——
Physics13——
Political Science and Government8——
Psychology16——
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication22——
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions———
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education———
Sociology12——
Special Education and Teaching13——
Statistics120——

Doctoral degree programs (2)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Educational Administration and Supervision27——
Natural Resources Conservation and Research1——

Graduate certificate programs (11)

ProgramGraduates (2 yrs)Earnings after 1 yrMedian debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations11——
Community Organization and Advocacy9——
Criminal Justice and Corrections7——
Educational/Instructional Media Design2——
Geography and Cartography3——
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods79——
Museology/Museum Studies———
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management5——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas7——
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language4——
Zoology/Animal Biology2——

Similar colleges in Illinois

CollegeCityNet price / yrAcceptanceEarnings
Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston$12,71765%$55,885
Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago$9,37775%$56,278
Governors State UniversityUniversity Park$15,83348%$61,863
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale$12,55487%$57,388
University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield$7,52886%$64,479
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville$13,11198%$59,436
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb$14,50570%$61,351
Chicago State UniversityChicago$7,27343%$48,395

All colleges in Illinois →

About Western Illinois University

TypePublic four-year university
LocationMacomb, IL
SettingTown (remote)
Undergraduates4,410
Student-to-faculty ratio12 to 1
AccreditorHigher Learning Commission
Websitewiu.edu ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is Western Illinois University's acceptance rate?

Western Illinois University admits 71% of applicants.

How much does Western Illinois University cost per year?

The full cost of attendance is $28,915 a year (tuition and fees: $15,466). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $10,018 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $3,427.

How much do Western Illinois University graduates earn?

Former students earn a median of $57,175 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 45th of 65 similar colleges in Illinois. The best-paid bachelor's program is mechanical engineering ($80,011 a year after graduation).

What is Western Illinois University's graduation rate?

49% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 61% of first-year students return for a second year.