Western Illinois University

www.wiu.edu

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2023 Undergraduate Tuition

$9,359

2.51% growth from 2022

2023 Average Net Price

$12,168

After Financial Aid

2020 Default Rate

on Student Loans

2023 Acceptance Rate

75%

8,479 Applicants

2023 Enrolled Students

7,073

73.8% Full-Time

2023 Graduation Rate

44.8%

531 Graduates

About

Western Illinois University is a higher education institution located in McDonough County, IL. In 2023, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Western Illinois University were Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (197 degrees awarded), Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities (111 degrees), and General Agriculture (79 degrees).

In 2023, 2,032 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Western Illinois University. 53.2% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 46.8% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,133 degrees), 5.78 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (196 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Western Illinois University is $9,359, which is $−15,216 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Illinois University was 0%, corresponding to 0 out of the 2,439 total borrowers.

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Western Illinois University is $9,359, which is $15,216 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $12,168.

In 2023, 72% of undergraduate students attending Western Illinois University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 31% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$9,359

2023 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2023, the cost of tuition at Western Illinois University was $9,359. The cost of tuition at Western Illinois University is $−15,216 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,575).

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

Average Net Price

$12,168

2023 Value

8.52%

1 Year Growth

In 2023 Western Illinois University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,168. Between 2022 and 2023, the average net price of Western Illinois University grew by 8.52%.

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

$10,500

Room and Board

$1,200

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Western Illinois University was of $10,500 in 2023. The cost of room and board increased by 3.02% between 2022 and 2023.

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

72%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

31%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

72% of undergraduate students at Western Illinois University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2023. This represents a decline of 25.8% with respect to 2022, when 97% 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.

2020 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2020 the default rate for borrower's at Western Illinois University was 0%, which represents 0 out of the 2439 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 8,479 undergraduate applications in 2023, which represents a 8.03% annual growth. Out of those 8,479 applicants, 6,356 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 75% acceptance rate.

There were 7,073 students enrolled at Western Illinois University in 2023. 79% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Western Illinois University has an overall enrollment yield of 15.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

75%

Acceptance Rate in 2023

6,356

Accepted Out of 8,479

In 2023, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Western Illinois University was 75% (6,356 admissions from 8,479 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2022, which was 75%. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of applicants declined by 8.03%, while admissions declined by 8.07%.

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.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Western Illinois University had a total enrollment of 7,073 students in 2023. The full-time enrollment at Western Illinois University is 5,220 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,853. This means that 73.8% of students enrolled at Western Illinois University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Western Illinois University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 54.1% White, 16.5% Black or African American, 10.3% Hispanic or Latino, 2.73% Two or More Races, 1.26% Asian, 0.127% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0848% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Western Illinois University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (30.5%), followed by White Male (23.7%) and Black or African American Female (14%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (13.8%), followed by White Male (9.8%) and Black or African American Female (2.82%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

73.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Western Illinois University in 2023, both undergraduate and graduate, is 7,073 students. The full-time enrollment at Western Illinois University is 5,220 and the part-time enrollment is 1,853. This means that 73.8% of students enrolled at Western Illinois University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.2% 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

59%

2023 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 59%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (74%), 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 (2023)

White
3,824 enrolled students
Black or African American
1,164 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
725 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Western Illinois University is 54.1% White, 16.5% Black or African American, 10.3% Hispanic or Latino, 2.73% Two or More Races, 1.26% Asian, 0.127% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0848% 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 50.1% White, 17.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.4% 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, 145 students (2.05%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2023, 132 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 (1,133 degrees awarded). There were 5.78 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (196 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Western Illinois University is Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (197 degrees awarded), followed by Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities (111 degrees) and General Agriculture (79 degrees).

In 2023, 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 (247 degrees awarded), Agriculture (79 degrees), and Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (100 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 (183,673 people), Postsecondary teachers (145,716 people), Police officers (142,733 people), Secondary school teachers (115,648 people), and Software developers (114,135 people).

The most specialized majors at Western Illinois University in 2023 are Protective Services (247 degrees awarded), Agriculture (79 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (100 degrees), Math & Statistics (65 degrees), and Physical Sciences (42 degrees) (as of 2023).

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, Photographic process workers & processing machine operators, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Chief executives & legislators

The most specialized majors at Western Illinois University are Protective Services (247 degrees awarded), Agriculture (79 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (100 degrees), Math & Statistics (65 degrees), and Physical Sciences (42 degrees) (as of 2023).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

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 Elementary & secondary schools (2,852,366 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (436,749 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (368,991 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (250,964 people), and Computer Systems Design (188,212 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 (2023)

Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration
197 degrees awarded
Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
111 degrees awarded
General Agriculture
79 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Western Illinois University was Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration with 197 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 2023

1,082

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2023

In 2023, 950 degrees were awarded to men at Western Illinois University, which is 0.878 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,082).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2023, 135 degrees were awarded to men at Western Illinois University in General Computer & Information Sciences, which is 1.93 times more than the 70 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2023, 114 degrees were awarded to men at Western Illinois University in Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration, which is 1 times approximately the same the 114 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

32%

100% Completion Time

51%

150% Completion Time

In 2023, 32% 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 52% 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 (75%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2023 at Western Illinois University is Female and Asian (75% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Non-resident Alien Male students have the highest graduation rate (65.7%).

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, 1.51% of graduates (8 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2023)

White
1,133 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
196 degrees awarded
Black or African American
180 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Western Illinois University is white (1,133 degrees awarded). There were 5.78 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (196 degrees).

1.97% of degree recipients (40 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2023)

White Female
620 degrees awarded
White Male
513 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
123 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Western Illinois University is white female (620 degrees awarded). There were 1.21 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (513 degrees).

Operations

Western Illinois University has an endowment valued at nearly $85.6M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 1.52M (1.77%) compared to the 5.72% average return (2.84M on 49.7M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2023, Western Illinois University had a total salary expenditure of 200M. Western Illinois University employs 203 Professors, 81 Assistant professors and 75 Instructors. Most academics at Western Illinois University are Male Professor (132), Female Professor (71), and Female Instructor (52).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Illinois University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 155 employees, Service, with 153 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 117 employees.

Endowment

$85.6M

2023 Endowment

8.02%

growth from 2022

Western Illinois University has an endowment valued at about $85.6M, as of the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The endowment of Western Illinois University grew 8.02% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $35.9M 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

$9.36M - Federal
$4.82M - State
$84.1k - Local

As of 2023, Western Illinois University received $9.36M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $4.82M from state grants and contracts, and $84.1k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$91.1M

2023 Salaries

2.17%

growth from 2022

In 2023, Western Illinois University paid a median of $91.1M in salaries, which represents 45.5% of their overall expenditure ($200M) and a 2.17% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 3.52% growth between 2021 and 2022, and a 2.39% decline between 2020 and 2021.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 36.1M (39.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$37M

Instructional Salaries

434

Number of Employees

In 2023, Western Illinois University paid a total of $37M to 434 employees working as instructors, which represents 40.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $1.12M (2.97%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

203 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

155 Employees

In 2023, the most common positions for instructional staff at Western Illinois University were Professor with 203 employees, Assistant professor with 81 employees, and Instructor with 75 employees.

In 2023, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Western Illinois University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 155 employees, Service with 153 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 117 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2023)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Female Instructor

In 2023, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Western Illinois University was Male Professor with 132 employees, Female Professor with 71 employees, and Female Instructor with 52 employees.

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

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