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Western Illinois University
Most applicants get into Western Illinois University — 71.2% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Western Illinois University anchors the college town of Macomb, IL, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $92,824 four years out. Faculty pay averages $122,856 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 4,410 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 61.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Western Illinois University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
Western Illinois University does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 71.2% who got into Western Illinois University did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Western Illinois University received 8,479 applications and admitted 6,356 (75%), with 968 enrolling.
How Western Illinois University compares
| Western Illinois University | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 71.2% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $15,264 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $54,163 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Western Illinois University's median earnings are $54,163 — below the Illinois benchmark of $58,572. Weigh that against the $15,264 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Western Illinois University prices by residency: $15,264 in-state versus $15,264 out-of-state — a $0 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Western Illinois University enrolls 4,410 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Western Illinois University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
45.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 55% don't — ask a Western Illinois University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Western Illinois University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $92,824 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $86,694 |
| Construction Management | $85,974 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $75,922 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $71,059 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $70,157 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $70,021 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $69,716 |
| Fire Protection | $68,753 |
| Marketing | $68,306 |
| Chemistry | $68,249 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $63,125 |
| Agriculture, General | $58,333 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $56,771 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $55,944 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $54,394 |
| Social Work | $54,063 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $54,059 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $53,576 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $53,453 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $51,255 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,203 |
| Political Science and Government | $50,963 |
| Biology, General | $50,855 |
| Graphic Communications | $50,751 |
| Sociology | $50,080 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $49,431 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | $48,039 |
| History | $47,084 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $46,966 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $46,363 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $45,395 |
| Psychology, General | $44,683 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,279 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,984 |
| Music | $39,609 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $35,703 |
Median earnings for these 37 Western Illinois University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $54,163 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 35 additional Western Illinois University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Western Illinois University?
Western Illinois University doesn't look at test scores; its 71.2% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Western Illinois University's acceptance rate?
75% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 6,356 admitted from 8,479 applicants.
How much does Western Illinois University cost?
In-state tuition is $15,264; out-of-state students pay $15,264. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Western Illinois University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $54,163 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- Trinity Christian College — 84.9% admitted
- Saint Xavier University — 84.3% admitted
- University of St Francis — 65.3% admitted
- Northeastern Illinois University — 74.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.