Western Illinois University tuition, cost & net price

The sticker price at Western Illinois University is $28,254 a year for Illinois residents. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $12,937 on average, and what your family pays depends mostly on income. Choose yours below.

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What your family pays
$12,937 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $28,254. College Scorecard.

Net price by family income

Average after grants and scholarships for Illinois residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year

Sticker price, line by line

Per year, living on campusIn-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$15,264$15,264
Housing & meals$10,920$10,920
Books & supplies$1,200$1,200
Personal & travel$1,776$1,776
Living-at-home adjustment−$906−$906
Total cost of attendance$28,254$28,254

Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.

Debt after graduation

Median federal loan debt$19,762
Loan default rate7.9%3-year rate, 2017 repayment cohort
Debt as a share of earnings 10 years out36%

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Who gets aid

Students with Pell Grants28%Federal grants for lower-income students
Grants for the average aided student$15,317Sticker price minus average net price

College Scorecard

Western Illinois University net price compared with other Illinois colleges

Western Illinois University has the 9th-lowest average net price of 52 Illinois colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAvg. net priceGraduationEarnings, 10 yrs
5Governors State University$12,32922%$58,169
6Chicago State University$12,33515%$42,778
7National Louis University$12,64130%$45,799
8Eastern Illinois University$12,78647%$51,989
9Western Illinois University$12,93745%$54,163
10University of St Francis$13,00667%$63,926
11Southern Illinois University-Carbondale$13,29762%$53,390
12Northern Illinois University$13,39149%$57,808
13Northeastern Illinois University$14,10922%$52,234

College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Illinois colleges →

Why Western Illinois University costs more or less than similar schools

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
Western Illinois University71%$12,93745%$54,163This school
Eastern Illinois University65%$12,78647%$51,989
Northeastern Illinois University75%$14,10922%$52,234
University of Illinois Springfield86%$9,83353%$57,103
Northern Illinois University70%$13,39149%$57,808

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

Western Illinois University would cost you $151 more per year than Eastern Illinois University, on average.

  • Higher sticker price at Western Illinois University, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$1,585).
  • Western Illinois University gives aided families $1,107 more in grants, on average.
Per year, Illinois residentWestern Illinois UniversityEIUDifference
Tuition & fees$15,264$13,679+$1,585
Books & supplies$1,200$150+$1,050
Housing & meals$10,920$11,298−$378
Personal & travel$1,776$2,768−$992
Living-at-home adjustment−$906−$899−$7
Sticker price$28,254$26,996+$1,258
Average grants−$15,317−$14,210−$1,107
You pay$12,937$12,786+$151

“+” means Western Illinois University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

Western Illinois University cost questions

How much is tuition at Western Illinois University?

Tuition and fees are $15,264 a year.

What is the total cost of attending Western Illinois University?

The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $28,254 a year for Illinois residents living on campus and about $28,254 for out-of-state students.

What do families actually pay at Western Illinois University?

After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $12,937 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $6,941; $48–75k pay $12,062; $110k+ pay $19,701. These figures are for Illinois residents.

How much debt do Western Illinois University graduates have?

The median federal loan debt at graduation is $19,762, and 7.9% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).

Is Western Illinois University the right fit for your family?

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Western Illinois University overview