What is the acceptance rate at Western Illinois University?

Western Illinois University's acceptance rate is approximately 71% (Macomb, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

How much does Western Illinois University cost?

At Western Illinois University, the average net price (after aid) is about $12,937 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Western Illinois University?

Western Illinois University enrolls approximately 4,410 undergraduate students.

Where is Western Illinois University located?

Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL.

Western Illinois University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

← All schools

Western Illinois University

Macomb, ILpublicwww.wiu.edu/

Acceptance

71%

Avg net price

$12,937

Earnings (10 yr)

$54,163

Graduation rate

45%

Admit rate has ranged 57%–75% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Western Illinois University (WIU) is a public university in Macomb, IL, known for its affordability, career-oriented programs, and tight-knit community. With a 75% acceptance rate and test-optional admissions, WIU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs, including unique offerings like one of the Midwest's only forensic chemistry programs. While graduation rates lag behind national averages, the university emphasizes hands-on learning and student support.

Admission requirements

Test-blind — scores not considered

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 4,410
In-state tuition: $15,264
Out-of-state tuition: $15,264
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Application Fee: $30
Most Popular Major: Homeland Security/Law Enforcement
Application Deadline: August 1
6-Year Graduation Rate: 47%
Students Receiving Aid: 54%

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $54,163
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 4.2×
Median debt at graduation: $25,251
Graduation rate: 45%
First-year retention: 61%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 59%
Pell (lower-income) share: 68%
First-generation share: 38%
Endowment / student: $22,080

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Engineering, General$64,990
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General$60,771
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$58,334
Construction Management$52,941
Computer and Information Sciences, General$48,667
Accounting and Related Services

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 1
Per 1,000 students: 0.23

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 83
Summer high: 84°F
Winter low: 23°F
Annual rain: 40.5"
Annual snow: 21.6"
Natural-hazard risk: Very Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 153
Scholarly works: 7,005

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.2%
Bottom → top quintile: 24%
From bottom quintile: 5%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Western Illinois University?: Western Illinois University's acceptance rate is approximately 71% (Macomb, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Western Illinois University cost?: At Western Illinois University, the average net price (after aid) is about $12,937 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Western Illinois University?: Western Illinois University enrolls approximately 4,410 undergraduate students.
Where is Western Illinois University located?: Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, IL.

Admissions

WIU maintains an accessible admissions process with a 75% acceptance rate, making it a non-selective institution (sources vary slightly, reporting rates between 71-75%). The university is test-optional for undergraduates, though some graduate programs require GRE/GMAT scores. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 860-1140 on the SAT or 17-26 on the ACT, with a regular application deadline of August 1 and a $30 application fee.

prepscholar.com usnews.com bigfuture.collegeboard.org wiu.edu meetyourclass.com