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Compare Eastern Illinois University vs Western Illinois University

Charleston, IL · Macomb, IL

Eastern Illinois UniversityWestern Illinois University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$12,786/yr$12,937/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$9,828/yr$6,941/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$21,500$25,251
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$8,619/yr$8,787/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$11,412/yr$12,062/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$15,665/yr$16,294/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$21,027/yr$19,701/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$228/mo$268/mo
Room & board (on campus)$12,282/yr$11,320/yr
Room & board (off campus)$11,862/yr$11,320/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$150/yr$1,200/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$1,944/yr$1,772/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$26,996/yr$28,254/yr
Tuition (in-state)$13,679/yr$15,264/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$16,217/yr$15,264/yr
Students with Pell Grants29%28%
Students taking federal loans31%32%
Getting in
Students who get accepted65%71%
SAT range (middle 50%)880–1090No data reported
SAT average1000No data reported
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received11,6488,479
Students accepted7,8926,356
Students who enrolled819968
Accepted students who enroll10%15%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores1%No data reported
Enrolled who sent ACT scores0%No data reported
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayNot consideredNot considered
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
College-prep programRequiredRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceNot consideredNot considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate47%45%
Freshmen who come back72%61%
Typical earnings 10 years in$51,989/yr$54,163/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$35,825–$72,492$37,122–$76,551
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)59%55%
White students graduating58%60%
Black students graduating32%26%
Hispanic students graduating50%43%
Asian students graduating56%50%
Typical earnings 6 years in$42,694/yr$43,057/yr
Earn more than a HS grad77%76%
Graduate on time27%31%
Pell students who graduate40%36%
First-gen students who finish53%54%
Low-income students who finish46%47%
Students who transfer out29%31%
Typical earnings 8 years in$48,019/yr$48,456/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 13% · Education 11% · Health Professions 10%Homeland Security & Protective Services 16% · Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 11%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 13% of degreesHomeland Security & Protective Services — 16% of degrees
2nd most popular programEducation — 11% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees
3rd most popular programHealth Professions — 10% of degreesLiberal Arts & General Studies — 11% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 9% of degreesEducation — 10% of degrees
5th most popular programLiberal Arts & General Studies — 8% of degreesPsychology — 6% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Educational Administration and Supervision — $67,396/yrEducational Administration and Supervision — $149,003/yr
Degrees in STEM12%12%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment4,1884,410
Students per professor14 : 112 : 1
Graduate students1,7201,807
Average professor pay$9,482/mo$10,238/mo
Full-time professors77%85%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$39,153$36,222
SettingTown (remote)Town (remote)
LocationCharleston, ILMacomb, IL
RegionGreat LakesGreat Lakes
Founded18951899
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students2.6%4.5%
Men40%41%
Women60%59%
White students57%58%
Black students18%19%
Hispanic or Latino students10%12%
Asian students1.5%1.3%
Two or more races3%3.5%
Other / not reported6.8%2.3%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students34%38%
Part-time students11%15%
Students age 25+9.8%16%
Spent on teaching per student$10,847/yr$12,650/yr
Endowment$73.3M$97.4M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing4,3043,083
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)No data reported$6,600/yr
Meal plan chargeNo data reported$4,320/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekNo data reportedVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesNoYes
On-campus day careNoYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionYesYes
Prepaid tuition planYesNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1713
Student athletes473358
Athletic scholarships$4.6M$4.5M
Athletics budget$19.7M$14.8M
Athletics revenue$19.7M$14.8M
Recruiting spend$206,749$78,068

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.