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Western Illinois University: Popular Programs & Ranking
1050 acre campus- Estd. 1899
Last updated on 1 Oct '25WIUWhat's new?
WIU is accepting admission applications for the upcoming academic session, listed below are the upcoming deadlines:
- UG Spring Semester Deadline is: Oct 01, 2025
- PG Spring Semester Deadline is: Oct 01, 2025
About Western Illinois University
History
Established in 1899, the Western Illinois University is a public university based in Macomb, Illinois, United States.
The institution first opened its doors under the name Western Illinois Normal School on Sep 23, 1902.
Accreditation
WIU is among the few institutions in the region to be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The institution first attained its accreditation way back in 1913 & has maintained it for more than a century. The institute undergoes accreditation every 10 years.
Student Population
WIU houses over 6,300+ students (as of Fall 2024), of which 4,425 are undergraduates, while the graduate population comprises of 1,807 members.
Of the overall student population, 40.6% were identified as males, while 59.4% students are females. The enrolment percentage of underrepresented students stands at 31.0%.
Rankings
WIU is among the best ranking institutions in the region, with several notable platforms ranking it highly as part of their respective university rankings.
A prominent source ranks it #16 as part of its latest Top Public School Rankings, while the same source ranks it:
- #55 for Best Value Schools
- #27 for Best Colleges for Veterans
- #44 for Top Performers on Social Mobility
The institute’s courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Rankings, with its BBA program securing a country-level rank of #380, while its overall Business & Management programs rank #400 among all courses offered by higher educational institutes in the United States.
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
The Western Illinois University ranks among the best higher educational institutions in the region.
A major university ranking platform ranks it #440 as part of its the latest UG Business Rankings 2025, while the same source ranks it #57 as part of its the latest rankings of the “Regional Universities in Midwest” category.
It attains a rank of #16 for the “Top Public Schools” category & #55 for “Best Value Schools”.
Illinois is among the most prominent states in the USA for a number of reasons. The state is home to Chicago, which also happens to be the third most populous city in the country.
The state houses some of the best educational institutions in the region including: North-Western University, The University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, & Western Illinois University among others.
The state is also known for offering an interesting blend of historical architectures & natural beauty with some popular locations including:
· The Art Museum of Chicago
· Millennium Park
· The Magnificent Mile
· Willis Tower
· Cloud Gate
· Lincoln Park Zoo
Western Illinois University has two campuses; Macomb campus and Quad Cities campus. Macomb campus is the main campus of Western Illinois University. It is located in the rural community of Macomb and offers a vbrant collegiate experience for almost 8,000 students. This campus has 7 residence halls, 300-acre farsm and an 18-hole golf course. Also, The Quad Cities campus of Western Illinois University is located on the banks of Mississippi River. The QS campus of WIU is the only public four-year regional university in the Quad Cities region and beyond. This campus has state-of-the-art classrooms, STEM laboratories, environmnetally sustainable buildings, Esports room and natural landscape.
Western Illinois University Ranking 2025
Western Illinois University is frequently recognized for its academics and global reputation.
Western Illinois University's specialized courses such as BBA has been ranked #380 nationally, respectively.
Commonly asked questions On Rankings
WIU can be considered a good institution for studying abroad.
The institute offers an inclusive campus environment with a major emphasis on experiential learning. Eligible students can also apply for merit & need-based financial aids, with cash prizes going north of INR 5 L.
There's also a greater emphasis on student engagement with weekly academic events such as workshops, conferences & meet-ups with industry professional providing a great opportunity for students to grow their network.
Western Illinois University Courses
The Western Illinois University offers 100+ degree programs including 60 UG courses & 40 PG courses as well as two doctoral programs.
Some prominent streams pursued by students at the university includes: Law Enforcement & Justice Administration, Elementary Education, Psychology, General Studies, Computer Science, Alternative Teacher Licensure, Public Health & Nursing among others.
Mentioned below are some popular undergraduate courses offered by WIU:
- BBA in Accountancy
- BS in Agriculture
- BS in Computer Science
- BS in Biology
- BA in Broadcasting & Journalism
- BA in Art
Given below are some popular postgraduate courses offered by the institute:
- MBA
- MA in Teaching
- MA in Communication
- MA in Political Science
- MS in Biology
- MS in Computer Science
- Master of Public Health
The institute also offers a number of integrated Baccalaureate & Master’s programs, allowing students to complete their postgraduate education faster.
Listed below are some prominent integrated courses offered by WIU:
- BBA + MBA
- BA in Arts + MA in Museum Studies
- BA in Broadcasting & Journalism + MS in Sports Management
- BS + MS in Chemistry
- BS + MS in Computer Science
For more course related info, look into the table below or click: Western Illinois University Courses
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Western Illinois University Admission 2025
The university accepts admission applications primarily over two windows: Fall & Spring.
The Fall semester deadlines are now closed, however, deadlines for Spring semester are still open to international students.
The upcoming application deadlines for both undergraduate & postgraduate courses are given below:
|
Application Type |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|
|
UG Spring Semester |
Oct 01, 2025 |
|
PG Spring Semester |
Oct 01, 2025 |
Western Illinois University Admission Requirements 2025
The admission requirements vary for both UG & PG courses. Given below are the admission requirements for students interested in UG course admissions:
- Must possess the equivalent of an U.S. high school diploma
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 75 on a 4.0 scale (all marks & scores to be converted to a 4.0. scale)
- Pay a non-refundable application fee of USD 50 (INR 4,300)
- Submit proof of financial ability to study
- A copy of passport
- High-school & Secondary-school level educational transcripts & individual mark sheets
- An official unopened (10+2) school record, sealed by the Exam board & mail or courier the same to WIU
- Satisfy the language test scores mentioned below:
|
Test |
Minimum Score |
|---|---|
|
73 |
|
|
8.0 |
|
|
6.0 |
|
|
ITEP |
3.7 |
|
49 |
|
|
105 |
Admission process for International Students
International applicants can follow the below mentioned admission process for successfully applying for a seat at WIU:
- Register on the official WIU application portal
- Pick a course as per your interests
- Check & satisfy its entry requirements
- Upload all mandatory documents & fill all important fields
- Pay the standard application fee
- Wait for the university to share an official response
- Check the status of your application regularly
- Accept the offer letter
- Follow any further instructions as specified by the university
- Application fees :USD 50
- Type of deadline :Regular
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
Yes, the institute prefers its students to maintain a decent level of written & verbal English language proficiency & IELTS score is considered an acceptable proof of the same.
Apart from IELTS score, the institute also accepts other test scores such as: Duolingo, TOEFL & PTE Academic.
Mentioned below are the minimum scores students must achieve:
Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
73 | |
8.0 | |
6.0 | |
ITEP | 3.7 |
49 | |
105 |
Yes, GRE scores are considered for admissions to some courses at WIU.
The university does not specify a university-wide minimum GRE score, therefore, candidates are advised to perform as well as they can, in these exams.
Priority is given to students with a higher score as well as those who maintain a solid academic record & a professional resume highlighting their non-academic achievements.
WIUWestern Illinois University Scholarships
The Western Illinois University offers a number of scholarships to its international students on a merit basis.
The merit-based scholarships are awarded as per an individual’s academic performances, with GPA scores being given a lot of importance.
Mentioned below are some prominent scholarships offered to students at WIU:
|
Scholarship |
Financial Reward |
|---|---|
|
International Undergraduate Scholarship |
INR 1.72 L-INR 5.16 L |
|
International Graduate Scholarship |
INR 3.4 L |
|
International Presidential Scholarship |
Tuition & Fee waiver |
|
Undergraduate Regional Diversity Scholarship |
INR 2.58 L |
|
Rodney & Bertha Fink International Women’s Scholarship |
INR 1 L |
The eligibility requirements vary for each scholarship, mentioned below are the requirements for International UG Scholarship:
- Must maintain a 3.0. GPA on a 4.0. scale
- Must have earned less than 24 credits
- Must have a continuous full-time (12 hours) enrolment
- Must not be a part of a government or HGO sponsorship program except with bilateral agreement
- Scholarship only applies to WIU tuition costs
- 50% of the fee is awarded in the fall semester while the other 50% is awarded over the spring semester
The eligibility requirements for International Graduate Scholarship is mentioned below:
- Must possess an F-1 visa
- Must be a newly admitted, non-sponsored student enrolling to WIU for the first time
- Must maintain a CGPA of 3.0, on a 4.0. scale
- Continuous enrolment required
- Must not be receiving a graduate assistantship
- Must not be a pursuing a second bachelor’s degree
- The scholarship only applies to WIU tuition
Commonly asked questions On Scholarships
The WIU Presidential Scholarship is considered the university's most prestigious financial aid to students.
The scholarship is applicable for tuition fee waivers & is awarded to six undergraduate students.
Prospective candidates must demonstrate academic merit (minimum 3.5 GPA or higher), community engagement & leadership abilities to have the best possible chance of being granted the aid by the WIU selection committee.
The stipend earned by full-time graduate assistants, who work 20 hours a week & receive a stipend & waiver of tuition is USD 1,224 per month (INR 1.05 L) & around USD 9,792 (INR 8.4 L), over the course of an academic year.
Mentioned below are some other prominent scholarships offered to students at WIU:
Scholarship | Financial Reward |
|---|---|
International Undergraduate Scholarship | INR 1.72 L-INR 5.16 L |
International Graduate Scholarship | INR 3.4 L |
International Presidential Scholarship | Tuition & Fee waiver |
Undergraduate Regional Diversity Scholarship | INR 2.58 L |
Rodney & Bertha Fink International Women's Scholarship | INR 1 L |
18 months
Western Illinois University Placements
The Western Illinois University maintains a solid track record of providing post-study employment opportunities to students.
As per the latest employment data curated from an unofficial source, the 2,276 alumni members to have graduated of the Class of 2025, have secured employment across a number of sectors.
Mentioned below is a breakdown of the major sectors, WIU graduates are currently employed at:
|
Sector |
Total Students |
|---|---|
|
Education |
231 |
|
Operations |
220 |
|
Administrative |
164 |
|
Customer Success & Support |
88 |
|
Community & Social Services |
76 |
Though the institute offers over 100 courses, some courses are pursued more than others by the university’s student population.
Mentioned below is a breakdown of the prominent courses pursued by the alumni Class of 2025:
|
Course |
Total Students |
|---|---|
|
Business Administration |
119 |
|
Computer Science |
90 |
|
Computational Science |
82 |
|
Psychology |
69 |
|
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement |
69 |
The institute’s graduates are handpicked by some of the best for-profit & non-profit organizations in the US & abroad.
Listed below are some popular recruiters of WIU graduates:
- Walmart
- US Army
- John Deere
- Hy-Vee
- Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University Fees
The tuition fee at WIU varies significantly as per the level of the course & specialisation being pursued.
The tuition cost of a Bachelor of Science (BS) course is around INR 12.5 L, while that of a Master’s of Science (MS) program ranges between INR 8.1 L-INR 13.06 L.
There are also some other additional costs that students must take into consideration that are linked to living in Illinois, including: hostel, food, health insurance, public transport & some other miscellaneous expenses.
For an in-depth review of the study costs at WIU, check out: Western Illinois University Fees
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Duration & Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
MS(4 courses) | INR 9 L - 14 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18-24 months Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 73 & Above, PTE: 49 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above, GRE |
MPH(1 course) | INR 14 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18-24 months Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 73 & Above, PTE: 49 & Above, Duolingo: 105 & Above |
B.Sc.(1 course) | INR 13 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 4 years Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6 & Above, TOEFL: 73 & Above, PTE, Duolingo |
MBA/PGDM(1 course) | INR 14 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18-24 months Exam Accepted: GMAT: 500 & Above, GRE, IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 79 & Above, PTE: 53 & Above, Duolingo: 110 & Above |
Others PG(1 course) | INR 14 LGet Fee Details | Duration: 18-24 months Exam Accepted: IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 92 & Above, PTE: 62 & Above, Duolingo |
WIUStudent profile
Others
64%
Black
22%
Hispanic
12%
Asian
1%
In state
90%
Out of state
9%
24 and under
84%
25 and over
15%
UG Number of Applicant
Overall Graduation Rate
UG Enrollment
PG Enrollment
Western Illinois University Notable Alumni
Western Illinois University alumni are working worldwide. Some of these are well-known personalities working in different fields such as Politics, Cinema, Journalism, Sports & Healthcare, among others. Some of these popular WIU names are:
|
Alumni Name |
Alumni Profession |
|---|---|
|
Frank Winters |
Former American Football Player |
|
Mary Matalin |
Political Consultant |
|
Micheal Boatman |
Actor & Writer |
|
Tim Walberg |
Politician |
Western Illinois University vs Northern Illinois vs Saint Joseph’s University: Which is better?
Western Illinois University, Northern Illinois University & Saint Joseph’s University are part of the best institutions in the United States.
These institutions attract a large number of international students for their quality of education, excellent placements & better industry exposure.
However, to choose one between them, considering some key parameters such as location, tuition costs, popular programs & course fee can help make the selection process easier.
Given below is a comparison between WIU, NIU & SJU:
|
Criteria |
Western Illinois University |
Northern Illinois University |
Saint Joseph’s University |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Location |
1 University Cir, Macomb, IL 61455, United States |
Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center, 231 N Annie Glidden Rd, DeKalb, IL 60115, United States |
5600 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131, United States |
|
Acceptance Rate |
57% |
71% |
83% |
|
Popular Programs |
Business Administration, Computer Science, Accountancy |
Computer Science, Arts, Communication |
Finance, Business Administration, Healthcare |
|
Tuition Fee (MS) |
INR 8.1 L-INR 13.06 L |
INR 8.81 L-INR 25.26 L |
INR 11.34 L-INR 17.2 L |
|
Shiksha Popularity Rankings (BBA) |
#380 |
#205 |
#158 |
Compare WIU with other similar colleges
| College | 1st Year Tuition Fees | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| INR 8.55 L - 13.79 L | -/- | |
| INR 14.1 L - 16.92 L | -/- | |
| INR 9.41 L - 10.59 L | -/- | |
| INR 9.4 L - 19.34 L | #342 US News, 2025 | |
| INR 10.04 L - 17.68 L | #363 US News, 2026 | |
| INR 7.6 L - 20.53 L | #301 US News, 2026 |
CompareStudy in the USA
Key Facts About USA
Insights on education, demographics & weather.
Western Illinois University Campus Life
Based in Macomb, Illinois, the Western Illinois University Campus offers over 150 groups & programs to take part in multiple academic & recreational activities.
Athletics
WIU runs one of the most sought-after sports programme in the region offering students a chance to participate in a number of popular varsity sports including: baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, football, soccer, cross country & track & field.
The institute’s sports programme is sponsored by sports equipment manufacturing giant Adidas, who provide a number of resources to the university students at special discounted prices.
The university also has its own sports team: The Leathernecks that participates in United States college system’s premier sports competitions: the NCAA & OVC.
Dining
The institute maintains a number of dining facilities across its campus that offers meals throughout the day. The dining facilities include two dining centers: Corbin Olson & Thompson as well as a convenience store: Lincoln Washington.
These facilities offer a variety of meals, with a new cuisine being served every single day.
The dining facilities remain open till late nights, as do the convenience stores, meaning accessibility to food is not an issue.
Housing
On-campus accommodation is available in the form of residence halls located across the campus, with some major ones including: Caroline Grote Hall, Corbin-Olson Hall, Thompson Hall & Westbrook House.
Accommodation is available in suite-style rooms with all essential facilities such as beds, desks, hutches, dressers & desk chairs provided by the institute.
Additional facilities include laundry, shared bathrooms, study spaces as well as recreational halls.
Alternatively, the option to live off-campus is also available, with WIU maintaining a dedicated off-campus housing resource, that students can explore by visiting the official university housing portal.
Commonly asked questions On Others
WIU students are required to live as part of on-campus accommodation facilities for a duration of four semesters or at-least until they attain 60 credit hours.
Those who do not satisfy these conditions would then need to file a petition for living off-campus.
For more information regarding relocation to off-campus facilities, students are advised to refer the university's Housing office.
Mentioned below are the costs of living as part of University maintained residence halls along with the costs of meals at Western Illinois University for students who enrolled in Spring 2025 or Summer 2025:
| Accommodation & Meal Type | Fall/Spring | Summer (8 Week Session) | Summer (4 Week Session) |
|---|---|---|---|
Double Occupancy and Meal Plan | INR 4.86 L | INR 74.5 K | INR 37.3 K |
Single Occupancy and Meal Plan | INR 6.20 L | INR 1.11 L | INR 55.7 K |
Super Single and Meal Plan | INR 6.38 L | N/A | N/A |
Super Double and Meal Plan | INR 5.12 L | N/A | N/A |
Corbin Suite-Single and Meal Plan | INR 7.37 L | N/A | N/A |
Corbin Suite-Double and Meal Plan | INR 5.12 L | N/A | N/A |
Grote-Double and Meal Plan | INR 5.27 L | N/A | |
Grote-Single and Meal Plan | INR 6.12 L | N/A | N/A |
ResNet (High Speed Internet) | INR 10.75 K | N/A | N/A |
WIU
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 months ago
Western Illinois University requires English language eligibility test scores by international students as an admission requirement. The university accepts various test scores like IELTS, TOEFL and PTE. The following table mentions the minimum required scores in the tests so as to fulfil the English
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 months ago
The MS in Computer Science programme in the Western Illinois University is a comprehensive programme on the foundational and advanced computer principles for individuals who want to grow practical experience in this field. The duration of this programme is generally 2 years and is offered in full-ti
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 months ago
According to the recent data on the official site of Western Illinois University, In the Fall of 2024, the international student count was 652, which constituted almost 10.3% of the total student strength at the university. International students take admissions from over 132 countries across the wo
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 months ago
No, the Western Illinois University does not mandatorily require ACT/SAT scores for undergraduate admissions of international students. Western Illinois University follows a test-optional policy, hence, for admissions, it just considers academic and English language proficiency requirements. However
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 months ago
For undergraduate admissions, Western Illinois University generally requirement a minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher, on a scale of 4.0. For postgraduate programs, the university requires a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0. The GPA requirements highly depends on the programme the applicant is choos
S
Contributor-Level 10
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Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
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| University City | Macomb, Illinois, USA |
WIUCampuses
1 University Cir, Macomb, IL 61455, USA
Visit official siteWIUContact Information
1 University Cir, Macomb, IL 61455, United States
Macomb ( Illinois)
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