Western Illinois University

Public · Moderately Selective · IL

Photo: Adam Moss from Tonawanda, New York, United States (CC BY-SA 2.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationIL · Midwest

SettingRural

Undergrads4,410

Student:faculty12:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate30.5%

6-yr grad rate45.2%

Drop-out rate38.6%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$15k

Out-of-state tuition$15k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity42.1%

Gender diversity58.8%

International4.5%

Identity—

Overview

Western Illinois University is a public university in Macomb, a small city in rural western Illinois, serving a largely residential undergraduate population drawn from across the state. It has long positioned itself as a comprehensive university with particular strength in a handful of applied and pre-professional fields rather than as a research-intensive flagship.

Academics

Law enforcement and justice studies form a historic signature program, with strong ties to Illinois police agencies and a reputation that draws students from well outside the immediate region. Agriculture and teacher education are similarly established, backed by university farmland and long-standing placement relationships with area schools.

Campus & student life

Macomb is a genuine small college town where the university is the dominant presence, and most undergraduates live on or near campus rather than commuting. Leatherneck athletics and a fairly traditional residence-hall social scene anchor student life in a setting with few off-campus distractions.

Worth knowing

The rural, self-contained setting is a real trade-off some students weigh: it supports a close-knit campus community but offers less by way of internships or off-campus jobs than a university near a major metro area.

wiu.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate71.2%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying