Oakland University (OU) vs Western Illinois University (WIU)

Oakland University and Western Illinois University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Oakland University, nestled in the vibrant city of Rochester, Michigan, boasts a higher acceptance rate, allowing more students the opportunity to pursue their academic aspirations. In contrast, Western Illinois University, located in the charming town of Macomb, Illinois, maintains a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. While Oakland University excels in fields like engineering and nursing, Western Illinois University shines in areas such as education and agriculture. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these universities, including their graduation rates, student demographics, and popular majors, to make an informed decision that aligns with your unique academic goals and preferences.
Oakland University logo

Oakland University

Western Illinois University logo

Western Illinois University

Overview

Location Rochester Hills, Michigan Macomb, Illinois
Campus setting Suburb: Large Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 73.0% 72.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.1% 72.5%
Application fees $45
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range 970 - 1230 N/A
ACT range 21 - 29 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 60.0%
Students submitting ACT score 10.0%
Total number of applicants 10,645 7,156
Total number of admissions given out 9,803 5,187
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,025 920
Yield rate 20.7% 17.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $27,222

Out of state: $37,996
$29,140
Average net price $14,316 $11,666
Tuition
In state: $13,934

Out of state: $24,708
$9,238
Room & board $10,639
Room/dormitory: $6,240

Meal plan: $3,952
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

90.0%
Average amount $10,413
94.0%
Average amount $13,937
Students receiving federal student loan 40.0%
Average amount $4,896
50.0%
Average amount $5,417
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $11,832
5.0%
Average amount $9,533

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 13,771
Men 42.1% Women 57.9%
5,394
Men 43.5% Women 56.5%
Graduate students 3,399
Men 43.2% Women 56.8%
2,061
Men 42.9% Women 57.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 2.5% 9.7%
International students 4.6% 8.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 3,330 3,083
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Michigan Ohio Texas Florida Wisconsin Illinois Iowa Missouri Wisconsin Indiana

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Health Professions
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 56.1% 50.9%
Dropout rate 30.4% 16.5%
Transferred out 8.6% 31.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,063
  • Year 2: $104,510
  • Year 3: $111,195
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,486
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $104,636
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,963
  • Year 2: $96,829
  • Year 3: $102,429
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,366
  • Year 2: $89,412
  • Year 3: $100,527
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,453
  • Year 2: $80,858
  • Year 3: $88,542
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,313
  • Year 2: $78,488
  • Year 3: $85,248
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,319
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $82,466
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,808
  • Year 2: $76,962
  • Year 3: $82,235
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,652
  • Year 2: $68,305
  • Year 3: $78,387
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,648
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $75,775
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,427
  • Year 2: $63,166
  • Year 3: $79,149
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,346
  • Year 2: $81,702
  • Year 3: $72,457
Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,220
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $65,823
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $64,904
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,827
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $64,741
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,966
  • Year 2: $58,334
  • Year 3: $63,350
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,154
  • Year 2: $49,729
  • Year 3: $54,520
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,063
  • Year 2: $43,612
  • Year 3: $53,379
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,058
  • Year 2: $48,667
  • Year 3: $52,271
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,853
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $51,827

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