Western Michigan University (WMU) vs Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU)
Western Michigan University (WMU) and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU-C) are two public universities with distinct characteristics. WMU, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has a higher acceptance rate (80%) compared to SIU-C's 75%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors including Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences at WMU, and Business, Education, and Engineering at SIU-C. WMU boasts a larger student body, with over 23,000 undergraduates, while SIU-C has a more compact undergraduate population of around 12,000. In terms of graduation rates, WMU's four-year graduation rate stands at 38%, while SIU-C's is slightly lower at 32%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, allowing you to
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![]() Southern Illinois University-Carbondale |
![]() Western Michigan University |
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Overview |
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Location | Carbondale, Illinois | Kalamazoo, Michigan |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Small |
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 | 75.0% | 77.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 95.1% | 82.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$65
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Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 930 - 1160 | 1000 - 1220 |
ACT range | 20 - 28 | 21 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 43.0% | 37.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 18.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 6,987 | 18,853 |
Total number of admissions given out | 6,648 | 15,612 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,422 | 2,112 |
Yield rate | 21.4% | 13.5% |
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) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $29,903 |
In state:
$27,947
Out of state:
$31,281
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Average net price | $15,976 | $19,749 |
Tuition | $9,638 |
In state:
$13,334
Out of state:
$16,668
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,292
Meal plan:
$4,330
|
$10,884 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $13,301 |
95.0%
Average amount $6,352 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
55.0%
Average amount $5,362 |
49.0%
Average amount $5,188 |
Students taking out private loans |
8.0%
Average amount $12,619 |
10.0%
Average amount $15,132 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
8,147
Men 51.4% Women 48.6% |
14,587
Men 50.1% Women 49.9% |
Graduate students |
3,119
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
3,679
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 17.5% | 23.8% |
International students | 7.7% | 7.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 4,492 | 5,130 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Illinois Missouri Indiana Tennessee Wisconsin | Michigan Illinois Indiana Wisconsin Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 45.3% | 56.3% |
Dropout rate | 53.2% | 14.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 25.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
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