Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Western Illinois University at a Glance
Western Illinois University (WIU) is a public university in Macomb, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. As the normal school grew, it became Western Illinois State Teachers College. Once Western Illinois started offering graduate degrees, it again changed its name to Western Illinois State College. Western Illinois has an additional campus in Moline.
1899
127 years old
$84M
$84.3 million
5,337
515
1,050 acres
Identity
Is Western Illinois University Worth It?
Western Illinois University offers moderate value at $12,937/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $54,163, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 45% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Western Illinois University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #39 of 124 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CUNY York College | 100 | $4,456 | $56,945 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #4 | Purdue University Northwest | 86 | $6,079 | $48,318 |
| #5 | Snow College | 83 | $5,552 | $41,022 |
| #6 | University of Michigan-Flint | 81 | $7,007 | $53,230 |
| #39 | Western Illinois University | 47 | $12,937 | $54,163 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Western Illinois University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in IL.
Best Programs at Western Illinois University
The highest-earning program at Western Illinois University is Engineering Technology, General at $55,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at $23,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Engineering Technology, General graduate from Western Illinois University earns $55,700, while a Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics graduate earns $23,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Engineering Technology, General graduates carry $28,250 in median debt vs. $26,924 for Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $12,937/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Technology, General | $55,700 | $55,700 | $28,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $55,200 | $55,200 | $27,000 |
| Construction Management | $48,900 | $48,900 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $44,000 | $44,000 | $26,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $43,200 | $43,200 | $26,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,100 | $40,100 | $23,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $39,400 | $39,400 | $27,000 |
| Agriculture, General | $38,800 | $38,800 | $16,960 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $38,700 | $38,700 | $31,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $37,700 | $37,700 | $24,004 |
| Marketing | $37,400 | $37,400 | $25,000 |
| Chemistry | $36,700 | $36,700 | $27,158 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $35,100 | $35,100 | $22,300 |
| Music | $33,300 | $33,300 | $26,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $33,000 | $33,000 | $23,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $32,000 | $32,000 | $25,750 |
| Social Work | $31,800 | $31,800 | $29,004 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $31,100 | $31,100 | $24,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $30,600 | $30,600 | $24,496 |
| Biology, General | $29,000 | $29,000 | $27,000 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $28,200 | $28,200 | $27,125 |
| Psychology, General | $27,400 | $27,400 | $27,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $26,900 | $26,900 | $28,750 |
| Sociology | $26,500 | $26,500 | $31,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $25,700 | $25,700 | $23,251 |
| Political Science and Government | $25,600 | $25,600 | $25,500 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $25,500 | $25,500 | $23,581 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $25,400 | $25,400 | $26,000 |
| Graphic Communications | $24,400 | $24,400 | $24,382 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,200 | $24,200 | $26,625 |
| History | $24,000 | $24,000 | $28,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $23,700 | $23,700 | $26,924 |
Similar Colleges in IL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Macomb, IL
- Student Body
- 4,410 students
- Admission Rate
- 71%
- Graduation Rate
- 45%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $12,937
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $54,163
- Median Student Debt
- $25,251