Western Illinois University (WIU) vs Northern Michigan University (NMU)
Western Illinois University (WIU) and Northern Michigan University (NMU) are two public universities located in the Midwestern United States. Both institutions offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, but there are some key differences between the two schools. WIU has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than NMU (79%), and its student body is more diverse, with a larger percentage of international students. NMU, on the other hand, has a higher graduation rate (62%) than WIU (58%), and its students tend to have higher average ACT scores. To help you make an informed decision about which school is the best fit for you, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that details the key differences between WIU and NMU. Explore the table to find out more about the acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates of these two universities.
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![]() Northern Michigan University |
![]() Western Illinois University |
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Overview |
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Location | Marquette, Michigan | Macomb, Illinois |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | 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 | 72.0% | 72.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 71.3% | 72.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$35
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$30
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 6,553 | 7,156 |
Total number of admissions given out | 4,670 | 5,187 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,496 | 920 |
Yield rate | 32.0% | 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 |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$26,076
Out of state:
$31,572
|
$29,140 |
Average net price | $17,686 | $11,666 |
Tuition |
In state:
$12,098
Out of state:
$17,594
|
$9,238 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,212
Meal plan:
$5,700
|
Room/dormitory:
$6,240
Meal plan:
$3,952
|
Available payment plans |
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|
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Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $8,291 |
94.0%
Average amount $13,937 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
60.0%
Average amount $4,882 |
50.0%
Average amount $5,417 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $12,023 |
5.0%
Average amount $9,533 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,611
Men 41.4% Women 58.6% |
5,394
Men 43.5% Women 56.5% |
Graduate students |
603
Men 31.8% Women 68.2% |
2,061
Men 42.9% Women 57.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 27.5% | 9.7% |
International students | 1.2% | 8.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 2,956 | 3,083 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Michigan Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota California | Illinois Iowa Missouri Wisconsin Indiana |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 19:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 49.4% | 50.9% |
Dropout rate | 48.5% | 16.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | 31.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
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