Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · Town (remote) · WIU

Public institution in Macomb, IL · 4,939 undergraduates · 75% acceptance rate · $54,163 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 21%Average net price
Top 23%Undergraduates

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $11,592425th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $14,952949th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $14,952550th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $27,828856th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $25,2511,386th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $54,163843rd highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $43,0571,021st highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 44.8%1,360th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 58.7%1,636th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 75.0%751st most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: —
Median ACT: —

Campus

Undergraduates: 4,939498th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 14.0:11,172nd smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 28.1%1,312th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 178 mi (MDW)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Illinois#26

Applying

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $30
Personal essay: Optional / not required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 68 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$59,991	$58,334
Engineering, GeneralEngineering	bachelors	$58,221	$64,990
Engineering Technology, GeneralEngineering Technology	bachelors	$52,107	$60,771
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science	bachelors	$49,214	$48,667
Construction ManagementBusiness	bachelors	$48,265	$52,941
Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$44,305	$43,612
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$44,170	$41,984
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEducation	bachelors	$42,682	$39,729
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$41,937	$41,937
Special Education and TeachingEducation	bachelors	$41,565	$40,500
Human Resources Management and ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$40,481	$38,289
MarketingBusiness	bachelors	$39,369	$39,729

Campus facts

Founded in 1899source
Athletic nickname: "Leathernecks"source
Competes in NCAA Division Isource
Mascot: Colonel Rocksource
Motto: "Your potential. Our purpose."source
Campus size: about 1,050 acressource
Formerly known as "Western Illinois State Normal School" (1899–1921)source
Formerly known as "Western Illinois State Teachers College" (1921–1947)source
Formerly known as "Western Illinois State College" (1947–1957)source
Athletic conference: FCSsource
Fight song: ""We Are Marching On""source

Athletics — 9 sports

NCAA Division I-FCS · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $4,523,114 (M $2,656,932 · W $1,866,182)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.