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University Park, IL · Macomb, IL
| Governors State University | Western Illinois University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $12,329/yr | $12,937/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $9,563/yr | $6,941/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $18,618 | $25,251 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $10,933/yr | $8,787/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,705/yr | $12,062/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $16,741/yr | $16,294/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $22,076/yr | $19,701/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $197/mo | $268/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,736/yr | $11,320/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,736/yr | $11,320/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,000/yr | $1,772/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $24,227/yr | $28,254/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $12,004/yr | $15,264/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $12,004/yr | $15,264/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 54% | 28% |
| Students taking federal loans | 38% | 32% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 48% | 71% |
| Admissions data from | No data reported | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | No data reported | 8,479 |
| Students accepted | No data reported | 6,356 |
| Students who enrolled | No data reported | 968 |
| Accepted students who enroll | No data reported | 15% |
| High-school GPA | No data reported | Required |
| High-school transcript | No data reported | Required |
| Essay | No data reported | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | No data reported | Not considered |
| Class rank | No data reported | Not considered |
| College-prep program | No data reported | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | No data reported | Not considered |
| Work experience | No data reported | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | No data reported | Required |
| Other admission tests | No data reported | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | No data reported | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 22% | 45% |
| Freshmen who come back | 56% | 61% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $58,169/yr | $54,163/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $37,592–$84,427 | $37,122–$76,551 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 43% | 55% |
| White students graduating | 48% | 60% |
| Black students graduating | 16% | 26% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 40% | 43% |
| Asian students graduating | 0% | 50% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,435/yr | $43,057/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 70% | 76% |
| Graduate on time | 12% | 31% |
| Pell students who graduate | 19% | 36% |
| First-gen students who finish | 56% | 54% |
| Low-income students who finish | 54% | 47% |
| Students who transfer out | 39% | 31% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $52,619/yr | $48,456/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 21% · Psychology 16% · Computer & Information Sciences 11% | Homeland Security & Protective Services 16% · Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 21% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 16% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Psychology — 16% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 11% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Health Professions — 11% of degrees | Education — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $101,783/yr | Educational Administration and Supervision — $149,003/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 16% | 12% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,556 | 4,410 |
| Students per professor | 11 : 1 | 12 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,825 | 1,807 |
| Average professor pay | $8,619/mo | $10,238/mo |
| Full-time professors | 51% | 85% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $20,792 | $36,222 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | Town (remote) |
| Location | University Park, IL | Macomb, IL |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1969 | 1899 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 2.2% | 4.5% |
| Men | 37% | 41% |
| Women | 63% | 59% |
| White students | 28% | 58% |
| Black students | 41% | 19% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 20% | 12% |
| Asian students | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Two or more races | 4.2% | 3.5% |
| Other / not reported | 3% | 2.3% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 43% | 38% |
| Part-time students | 32% | 15% |
| Students age 25+ | 42% | 16% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $13,036/yr | $12,650/yr |
| Endowment | $2.8M | $97.4M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 280 | 3,083 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $8,360/yr | $6,600/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,000/yr | $4,320/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Air Force | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | Yes |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NAIA Division I | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 13 |
| Student athletes | 289 | 358 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.7M | $4.5M |
| Athletics budget | $4.3M | $14.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $4.3M | $14.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $0 | $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, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.