Western Illinois University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Macomb, Illinois
Net price / year
$12,937
after grants & scholarships
lower than 54% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
71%
Graduation rate
45%
within 150% of normal time
lower than 55% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$57,453
4 years after graduating
lower than 55% of public 4-year colleges
Western Illinois University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Western Illinois University?
- Undergraduate tuition and fees are $15,264 for the 2024-25 academic year, the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Western Illinois University?
- The average cost of attendance is $28,254 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Western Illinois University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $12,937 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Western Illinois University?
- About 71% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is Western Illinois University test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
- What is the graduation rate at Western Illinois University?
- 45% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Western Illinois University earn?
- The median graduate earns $57,453 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.4 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $6,941 a year on average, versus $19,701 for families earning over $110,000.
- Pell Grant recipients completed within 150% of normal time at a rate of 36%, compared with 45% for all students, a gap of 9 points.
- The school admits 71% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
- One year into repayment, 15% of federal-loan borrowers had paid in full or were making progress on their balance (4,546 borrowers).
Tuition and cost of attendance at Western Illinois University
Average net price (in-state)
$12,937 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Western Illinois University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$51,748
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $6,941
- $30–48k $8,787
- $48–75k $12,062
- $75–110k $16,294
- $110k+ $19,701
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $28,254
- Tuition & fees$15,264
- Books & supplies$1,200
- Room & board$11,320
- Other expenses$1,772
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $15,264
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $15,264
Western Illinois University acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Western Illinois University
Graduation rate
45%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
60%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$268
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
2.4 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.4×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 5.6%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 45%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $37,122 · median $54,163 · 75th percentile $76,551
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 4,546 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 6%
- Making progress 9%
- Not making progress 13%
- Delinquent 3%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 58%
- Deferment 11%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
4,546 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Western Illinois University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 55 | $92,824 | 1 yr$62,5784 yrs$92,8245 yrs$73,734 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Above the U.S. median | $24,242 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 41 | $86,694 | 1 yr$74,4904 yrs$86,6945 yrs$80,342 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Below the U.S. median | $20,559 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 35 | $85,974 | 1 yr$70,7894 yrs$85,9745 yrs$84,868 | U.S. median $95,124 U.S. middle half $77.1K–$115.2K · Below the U.S. median | $24,656 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 37 | $75,922 | 1 yr$64,7624 yrs$75,9225 yrs$76,965 | U.S. median $80,526 U.S. middle half $62.4K–$99.2K · Below the U.S. median | $30,059 |
| Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 50 | $71,059 | 1 yr$49,9004 yrs$71,0595 yrs$65,058 | U.S. median $76,194 U.S. middle half $56.2K–$97.2K · Below the U.S. median | $23,627 |
| Human Resources Management and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample | $70,157 | 1 yr$47,4674 yrs$70,1575 yrs$48,657 | U.S. median $68,069 U.S. middle half $50.2K–$90.6K · Above the U.S. median | $21,875 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 136 | $70,021 | 1 yr$45,1374 yrs$70,0215 yrs$61,543 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median | $24,312 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $69,716 | 4 yrs$69,7165 yrs$59,698 | U.S. median $83,343 U.S. middle half $60.8K–$111.5K · Below the U.S. median | $26,250 |
| Fire Protection Bachelor's · Graduates: 45 | $68,753 | 1 yr$41,4324 yrs$68,753 | U.S. median $86,436 U.S. middle half $62.7K–$114.2K · Below the U.S. median | $20,931 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 42 | $68,306 | 1 yr$39,9774 yrs$68,3065 yrs$66,612 | U.S. median $69,303 U.S. middle half $49.7K–$93.2K · Below the U.S. median | $28,500 |
Show all 37 programs
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $68,249 | 1 yr$31,9804 yrs$68,2495 yrs$71,894 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median | $25,314 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 506 | $63,125 | 1 yr$40,8984 yrs$63,1255 yrs$65,120 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $24,859 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 160 | $58,333 | 1 yr$48,5094 yrs$58,3335 yrs$58,204 | U.S. median $53,676 U.S. middle half $39K–$70.6K · Above the U.S. median | $17,062 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $56,771 | 1 yr$40,2614 yrs$56,7715 yrs$47,471 | U.S. median $58,716 U.S. middle half $41.9K–$80.4K · Below the U.S. median | $39,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Bachelor's · Graduates: 245 | $55,944 | 1 yr$38,1964 yrs$55,9445 yrs$48,040 | U.S. median $53,072 U.S. middle half $35.8K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $54,394 | — | U.S. median $55,753 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$68.4K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 78 | $54,063 | 1 yr$39,6414 yrs$54,0635 yrs$47,489 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Above the U.S. median | $28,369 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $54,059 | 4 yrs$54,0595 yrs$52,097 | U.S. median $48,460 U.S. middle half $34.7K–$63K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 60 | $53,576 | 1 yr$28,3154 yrs$53,5765 yrs$59,683 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $29,125 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 21 Small sample | $53,453 | 1 yr$37,1554 yrs$53,453 | U.S. median $49,984 U.S. middle half $32.9K–$69.9K · Above the U.S. median | $29,875 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $51,255 | 1 yr$44,3764 yrs$51,2555 yrs$51,486 | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 86 | $51,203 | 1 yr$34,1424 yrs$51,2035 yrs$51,354 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Below the U.S. median | $28,170 |
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $50,963 | 1 yr$32,3594 yrs$50,9635 yrs$41,581 | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | $24,820 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 86 | $50,855 | 1 yr$34,0524 yrs$50,8555 yrs$50,891 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $50,751 | 4 yrs$50,7515 yrs$37,413 | U.S. median $43,283 U.S. middle half $27.2K–$64.3K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $50,080 | 4 yrs$50,0805 yrs$50,480 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Below the U.S. median | $27,250 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample | $49,431 | — | U.S. median $70,786 U.S. middle half $50.9K–$95.9K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $48,039 | — | U.S. median $67,934 U.S. middle half $47.4K–$91.4K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $47,084 | 4 yrs$47,0845 yrs$44,924 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $30,875 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication Bachelor's · Graduates: 67 | $46,966 | 1 yr$27,4624 yrs$46,9665 yrs$45,151 | U.S. median $50,497 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$70.1K · Below the U.S. median | $27,161 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management Bachelor's · Graduates: 83 | $46,363 | 1 yr$28,9784 yrs$46,3635 yrs$41,189 | U.S. median $50,468 U.S. middle half $37.5K–$64.3K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching Bachelor's · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $45,395 | 1 yr$46,7294 yrs$45,3955 yrs$48,274 | U.S. median $50,499 U.S. middle half $41.4K–$60.1K · Below the U.S. median | $22,896 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 76 | $44,683 | 1 yr$30,4714 yrs$44,6835 yrs$46,568 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 40 | $43,279 | 1 yr$40,5444 yrs$43,2795 yrs$44,479 | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Below the U.S. median | $22,446 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample | $41,984 | 1 yr$30,6524 yrs$41,9845 yrs$35,909 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $21,032 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $39,609 | 1 yr$32,6664 yrs$39,6095 yrs$46,354 | U.S. median $42,892 U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 38 | $35,703 | 1 yr$26,1964 yrs$35,7035 yrs$43,046 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Below the U.S. median | $27,000 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 57.9%
- Black or African American 18.7%
- Hispanic or Latino 11.9%
- Asian 1.3%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
- Two or more races 3.5%
- U.S. nonresident 4.5%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 2%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 41.2%
- Women 58.8%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
16%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 4,410
- Part-time students
- 15%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 28%
- Receive federal loans
- 32%
- Students per faculty member
- 12 : 1
- Setting
- Town
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Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Western Illinois University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Western Illinois University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $15,264, the same for in-state and out-of-state students. This is the published price before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Western Illinois University?
The average cost of attendance at Western Illinois University is $28,254 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $12,937 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Western Illinois University get?
28% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 32% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $6,941 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $19,701 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Western Illinois University?
Western Illinois University admitted about 71% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Western Illinois University?
45% of first-time, full-time students at Western Illinois University finish within 150% of normal time. 60% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Western Illinois University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $57,453 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $41,243.
Is Western Illinois University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Western Illinois University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 2.4 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $25,251, about 0.4 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 45% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do Western Illinois University graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $25,251, or about $268 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things