Western Illinois University (WIU) vs University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK)
Western Illinois University (WIU) and the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) are two public universities with distinct characteristics. WIU, located in Macomb, Illinois, has an acceptance rate of 86%, while UNK, situated in Kearney, Nebraska, boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate of 90%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including Business, Education, and Health Sciences at WIU, and Business, Education, and Communication at UNK. WIU's student body is predominantly female (56%), while UNK's student population is more evenly distributed between genders. In terms of graduation rates, WIU has a four-year graduation rate of 24%, while UNK's four-year graduation rate stands at 33%. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more. Explore the table to discover
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![]() University of Nebraska at Kearney |
![]() Western Illinois University |
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Overview |
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Location | Kearney, Nebraska | Macomb, Illinois |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | 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 | 76.0% | 72.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 90.3% | 72.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$45
|
Undergraduate:
$30
Graduate:
$30
|
SAT range | 938 - 1133 | N/A |
ACT range | 18 - 25 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 4.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 86.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 6,076 | 7,156 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,488 | 5,187 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 958 | 920 |
Yield rate | 17.5% | 17.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not 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:
$24,300
Out of state:
$30,552
|
$29,140 |
Average net price | $16,433 | $11,666 |
Tuition |
In state:
$6,292
Out of state:
$12,498
|
$9,238 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,436
Meal plan:
$5,192
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Room/dormitory:
$6,240
Meal plan:
$3,952
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
85.0%
Average amount $7,441 |
94.0%
Average amount $13,937 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
45.0%
Average amount $4,821 |
50.0%
Average amount $5,417 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $9,368 |
5.0%
Average amount $9,533 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
4,427
Men 37.7% Women 62.3% |
5,394
Men 43.5% Women 56.5% |
Graduate students |
1,848
Men 30.2% Women 69.8% |
2,061
Men 42.9% Women 57.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 9.9% | 9.7% |
International students | 4.2% | 8.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 2,072 | 3,083 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Nebraska Colorado Kansas Iowa Wyoming | Illinois Iowa Missouri Wisconsin Indiana |
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Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 58.0% | 50.9% |
Dropout rate | 11.4% | 16.5% |
Transferred out | 28.0% | 31.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Biology, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
Agricultural Business and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Curriculum and Instruction (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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