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Western Illinois University acceptance rate & admissions

Western Illinois University admits 71% of applicants, most. For Fall 2023, 6,356 of 8,479 applicants were admitted and 968 enrolled. The school does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind).

Check your chances at Western Illinois University → Compare your GPA and scores with these ranges, and with other colleges.

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Acceptance rate
71%

More selective than 60% of Illinois colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class

Test scores
Not considered

Share of students sending scores not reported.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Admitted students who enroll
15%

Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Western Illinois University over other offers.

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class

Applicants, admits and enrollment

Applied8,479
Admitted6,356
Enrolled968

IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.

What Western Illinois University weighs when deciding

How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Western Illinois University reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.

Very important
  • High school GPA
Not considered
  • Rigor of high school courses
  • Class rank
  • SAT/ACT scores
  • Essay
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent or ability
  • Character and personal qualities
  • First-generation college student
  • Alumni relation (legacy)
  • Where you live
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Your demonstrated interest

Item C7. Common Data Set 2024-25 (fall 2024 first-year students), published by the college.

High school GPA of Western Illinois University first-year students

Share of fall 2024 first-year students in each high school GPA range; the average was 3.48. Colleges report GPAs as they record them, weighted or not.

4.016.9%
3.75–3.9914.2%
3.50–3.7417.8%
3.25–3.4913.6%
3.00–3.2417.2%
2.50–2.9918.1%
2.00–2.490.8%
1.00–1.990%
Below 1.01.4%

Items C11-C12; enrolled students, not admitted students. Common Data Set 2024-25 (fall 2024 first-year students), published by the college.

Western Illinois University admissions year over year

Entering classAcceptanceSAT readingSAT mathACTSource
Fall 202471%———College Scorecard
Fall 202375%———IPEDS

Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.

How selective is Western Illinois University compared with other Illinois colleges?

Western Illinois University has the 22nd-lowest acceptance rate of 53 Illinois colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAcceptanceGraduationAvg. net price
18Millikin University67%55%$21,989
19North Park University69%58%$16,948
20Northern Illinois University70%49%$13,391
21Knox College71%68%$24,595
22Western Illinois University71%45%$12,937
23Lewis University71%67%$17,028
24McKendree University72%53%$24,717
25Elmhurst University74%70%$24,185
26Northeastern Illinois University75%22%$14,109

College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Illinois colleges →

Who enrolls at Western Illinois University

First-year students who return for year two61%
First-year students from Illinois90%
Pell Grant recipients28%
First-generation students38%
Women / men59% / 41%
International students4%

College Scorecard; IPEDS

Western Illinois University admissions questions

What is the Western Illinois University acceptance rate?

Western Illinois University accepts 71% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 6,356 of 8,479 applicants were admitted.

Does Western Illinois University require the SAT or ACT?

Western Illinois University does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023.

How many admitted students enroll at Western Illinois University?

15% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (968 of 6,356).

What does Western Illinois University look for in applicants?

Western Illinois University reports these as very important for first-year applicants: high school GPA. (Common Data Set 2024-25).

Is Western Illinois University getting harder to get into?

Western Illinois University accepted 71% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 75% for Fall 2023.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Western Illinois University's Common Data Set 2024-25; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Western Illinois University overview