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Is Western Illinois University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Western Illinois, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Western Illinois sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $54,163 helps, but median debt of $25,251 plus yearly net price of $12,937 creates a tighter path. For context, Western Illinois's net price is about 7% below the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$12,168
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $987 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $4,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$12,937
Median earnings 10 years out
$54,163
Median debt at graduation
$25,251
Graduation rate
45%
At Western Illinois, a typical graduate carries about $25,251 in student debt and earns roughly $54,163 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $287 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Western Illinois is a public four year school in Macomb, IL. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Eastern Illinois
Charleston, IL
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $12,786
Public 4-year
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
Worth-It Score: 69/100
Median net price: $13,297
Public 4-year
Northern Illinois
Dekalb, IL
Worth-It Score: 66/100
Median net price: $13,391
Public 4-year
Chicago State
Chicago, IL
Worth-It Score: 53/100
Median net price: $12,335
Public 4-year
Governors State
University Park, IL
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $12,329
Common questions about Western Illinois
The median net price at Western Illinois is $12,937 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Illinois? See the most affordable public universities in Illinois →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →