Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Western Illinois University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 47% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 42nd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (IL wage index 1.04). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Western Illinois University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $62,578 | $92,824 | +0% | #168 of 459 | #198 | $24,242 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $74,490 | $86,694 | -2% | #483 of 966 | #595 | $20,559 |
| Construction Management | $70,789 | $85,974 | -10% | #48 of 57 | #51 | $24,656 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $64,762 | $75,922 | -6% | #24 of 34 | #29 | $30,059 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $49,900 | $71,059 | -7% | #455 of 796 | #526 | $23,627 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $47,467 | $70,157 | +3% | #79 of 187 | #96 | $21,875 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $45,137 | $70,021 | +3% | #376 of 1176 | #462 | $24,312 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | $69,716 | -16% | #351 of 452 | #375 | $26,250 |
| Fire Protection | $41,432 | $68,753 | -20% | #18 of 19 | #17 | $20,931 |
| Marketing | $39,977 | $68,306 | -1% | #225 of 516 | #269 | $28,500 |
| Chemistry | $31,980 | $68,249 | +5% | #89 of 209 | #94 | $25,314 |
| Engineering | $66,112 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $40,898 | $63,125 | +14% | #80 of 660 | #106 | $24,859 |
| Agriculture | $48,509 | $58,333 | +9% | #11 of 43 | #16 | $17,062 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $40,261 | $56,771 | -3% | #164 of 275 | #182 | $39,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $38,196 | $55,944 | +5% | #160 of 476 | #194 | $25,000 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | — | $54,394 | -2% | #49 of 70 | #58 | — |
| Social Work | $39,641 | $54,063 | +4% | #155 of 420 | #215 | $28,369 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | — | $54,059 | +12% | #7 of 49 | #11 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,315 | $53,576 | -2% | #299 of 610 | #368 | $29,125 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $37,155 | $53,453 | +7% | #36 of 90 | #33 | $29,875 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $44,376 | $51,255 | +-0% | #168 of 345 | #246 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,142 | $51,203 | -9% | #407 of 660 | #470 | $28,170 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,359 | $50,963 | -19% | #502 of 565 | #519 | $24,820 |
| Biology | $34,052 | $50,855 | -11% | #654 of 841 | #723 | $27,000 |
| Graphic Communications | — | $50,751 | +17% | #18 of 59 | #18 | — |
| Sociology | — | $50,080 | -5% | #292 of 462 | #304 | $27,250 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $49,431 | -30% | #240 of 253 | #239 | — |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services | — | $48,039 | -29% | #15 of 15 | #15 | — |
| History | — | $47,084 | -7% | #316 of 459 | #350 | $30,875 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $27,462 | $46,966 | -7% | #102 of 158 | #122 | $27,161 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $28,978 | $46,363 | -8% | #42 of 55 | #47 | $27,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $46,729 | $45,395 | -10% | #150 of 177 | #159 | $22,896 |
| Psychology | $30,471 | $44,683 | -12% | #815 of 1027 | #912 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $40,544 | $43,279 | -9% | #565 of 680 | #630 | $22,446 |
| English Language and Literature | $30,652 | $41,984 | -14% | #464 of 576 | #495 | $21,032 |
| Music | $32,666 | $39,609 | -8% | #193 of 268 | #200 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,196 | $35,703 | -14% | #342 of 423 | #364 | $27,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Western Illinois University Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $112,694
- Avg rent near campus: $786/mo — vs ~$733/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 61422 (9.6% cap, Bushnell)
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🏆 Where Western Illinois University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $9,359 | $9,359 |
| Room | $6,600 | |
| Board | $4,320 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $28,848 | $28,848 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,968 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,391 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,608 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,515 |
| $110,001+ | $17,621 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Western Illinois University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Western Illinois University?
How much does it cost to attend Western Illinois University?
What is the graduation rate at Western Illinois University?
Is Western Illinois University a good school?
- Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Western Illinois University?
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🎓 Similar Colleges to Western Illinois University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology