Western Illinois University

www.wiu.edu/

Add Comparison

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$8,886

2% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$11,666

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

3.27%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

72.5%

7,156 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

7,455

74.9% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

50.9%

764 Graduates

About

Western Illinois University is a higher education institution located in McDonough County, IL. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Illinois University were Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (258 degrees awarded), Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities (148 degrees), and General Agriculture (75 degrees).

In 2021, 2,171 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Illinois University. 56.2% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 43.8% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,337 degrees), 4.1 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (326 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Illinois University is $8,886, which is $−14,298 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Illinois University is $8,886, which is $−14,298 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $11,666.

In 2021, 94% of undergraduate students attending Western Illinois University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 56% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$8,886

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Western Illinois University was $8,886. The cost of tuition at Western Illinois University is $−14,298 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($23,184).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Western Illinois University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$11,666

2021 Value

24.1%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Western Illinois University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,666. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Western Illinois University grew by 24.1%.

This chart compares the average net price of Western Illinois University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$9,800

Room and Board

$1,200

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Illinois University was of $9,800 in 2021. The cost of room and board did not change between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,200. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Western Illinois University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

94%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

56%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

94% of undergraduate students at Western Illinois University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 4.44% with respect to 2020, when 90% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Western Illinois University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

3.27%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Western Illinois University was 3.27%, which represents 86 out of the 2629 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Western Illinois University received 7,156 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 5.88% annual growth. Out of those 7,156 applicants, 5,187 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 72.5% acceptance rate.

There were 7,455 students enrolled at Western Illinois University in 2021. 79% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Illinois University has an overall enrollment yield of 17.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

72.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

5,187

Accepted Out of 7,156

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Illinois University was 72.5% (5,187 admissions from 7,156 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 67%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 5.88%, while admissions grew by 1.89%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Western Illinois University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

79%

Submission Percentage (2020)

838

Scores Submitted (2020)

79% of enrolled first-time students at Western Illinois University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Illinois University had a total enrollment of 7,455 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Western Illinois University is 5,581 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,874. This means that 74.9% of students enrolled at Western Illinois University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Illinois University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 57.9% White, 16.9% Black or African American, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.48% Two or More Races, 1.17% Asian, 0.121% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.107% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Illinois University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (30.9%), followed by White Male (25.7%) and Black or African American Female (14.2%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (20.3%), followed by White Male (16.1%) and Black or African American Male (3.67%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

74.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Illinois University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 7,455 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Illinois University is 5,581 and the part-time enrollment is 1,874. This means that 74.9% of students enrolled at Western Illinois University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.3% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Western Illinois University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

72%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Western Illinois University was 72%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), Western Illinois University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Western Illinois University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
4,317 enrolled students
Black or African American
1,262 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
781 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Illinois University is 57.9% White, 16.9% Black or African American, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.48% Two or More Races, 1.17% Asian, 0.121% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.107% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 52% White, 16.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.8% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 148 students (1.99%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 271 more women than men received degrees from Western Illinois University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Western Illinois University is white (1,337 degrees awarded). There were 4.1 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (326 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Illinois University is Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (258 degrees awarded), followed by Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities (148 degrees) and General Agriculture (75 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Western Illinois University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Protective Services (330 degrees awarded), Agriculture (75 degrees), and Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (118 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Illinois University are Other managers (246,723 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (145,387 people), Police officers (141,474 people), Postsecondary teachers (128,131 people), and Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (87,786 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Illinois University in 2021 are Protective Services (330 degrees awarded), Agriculture (75 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (118 degrees), Physical Sciences (51 degrees), and Communications (112 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Illinois University are Surgeons, Physicians, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Nurse anesthetists, and Chief executives & legislators

The most specialized majors at Western Illinois University are Protective Services (330 degrees awarded), Agriculture (75 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (118 degrees), Physical Sciences (51 degrees), and Communications (112 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Justice, public order, & safety activities

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Western Illinois University are Justice, public order, & safety activities (358,992 people), Elementary & secondary schools (348,646 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (327,827 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (212,032 people), and Computer Systems Design (168,792 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Western Illinois University.

Most Common (2021)

Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration
258 degree-majors awarded
Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
148 degree-majors awarded
General Agriculture
75 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Illinois University was Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration with 258 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Western Illinois University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

950

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

1,221

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 950 degrees were awarded to men at Western Illinois University, which is 0.778 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,221).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Western Illinois University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 174 degrees were awarded to men at Western Illinois University in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration, which is 1.33 times more than the 131 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 131 degrees were awarded to men at Western Illinois University in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration, which is 0.753 times less than the 174 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

33%

100% Completion Time

51%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 33% of students graduating from Western Illinois University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 51% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 53% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Western Illinois University is Female and Asian (100% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 4.06% of graduates (31 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
1,337 degrees awarded
Black or African American
326 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
224 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Illinois University is white (1,337 degrees awarded). There were 4.1 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (326 degrees).

1.93% of degree recipients (42 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
744 degrees awarded
White Male
593 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
200 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Illinois University is white female (744 degrees awarded). There were 1.25 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (593 degrees).

Operations

Western Illinois University has an endowment valued at nearly $84.3M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 86.3k (0.102%) compared to the 13.1% average return (6.61M on 50.4M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2021, Western Illinois University had a total salary expenditure of 259M. Western Illinois University employs 200 Professors, 92 Associate professors and 81 Instructors. Most academics at Western Illinois University are Male Professor (130), Female Professor (70), and Female Instructor (55).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Illinois University are: Service, with 159 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 158 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 125 employees.

Endowment

$84.3M

2021 Endowment

32.6%

growth from 2020

Western Illinois University has an endowment valued at about $84.3M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Illinois University grew 32.6% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $33.9M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Western Illinois University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$9.95M - Federal
$4.62M - State
$86.2k - Local

As of 2021, Western Illinois University received $9.95M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $4.62M from state grants and contracts, and $86.2k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$86.1M

2021 Salaries

2.39%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Western Illinois University paid a median of $86.1M in salaries, which represents 33.3% of their overall expenditure ($259M) and a 2.39% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 35.1M (41.3% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$37M

Instructional Salaries

443

Number of Employees

In 2021, Western Illinois University paid a total of $37M to 443 employees working as instructors, which represents 43% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11M (31.3%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

200 Employees

Service

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

159 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Illinois University were Professor with 200 employees, Associate professor with 92 employees, and Instructor with 81 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Illinois University were Service with 159 employees, Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 158 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 125 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Instructor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Illinois University was Male Professor with 130 employees, Female Professor with 70 employees, and Female Instructor with 55 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Western Illinois University.