Quad

Head-to-head

U. Mary Washington
Western Illinois

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    U. Mary Washington graduates 14 pts more of its students than Western Illinois (71% vs. 57%)

    Graduation rate
  2. 2

    Western Illinois has 13 pts more first-gen students than U. Mary Washington (38% vs. 25%)

    First-generation students
  3. 3

    U. Mary Washington's yield is 7 pts higher than Western Illinois's

    Yield rate
  4. 4

    Western Illinois has 7 pts more Pell recipients than U. Mary Washington (28% vs. 21%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  5. 5

    U. Mary Washington grads earn $6.5K more ten years out than Western Illinois's ($60,613 vs. $54,163)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  6. 6

    Western Illinois costs about $3.3K less per year on average than U. Mary Washington ($20,870 vs. $24,216, all students)

    Average cost, all students

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Western Illinois admits 71%, U. Mary Washington 80%; U. Mary Washington's yield is higher, at 18%.

Acceptance rate
U. Mary Washington80%
Western Illinois71%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. Mary WashingtonSelective
  • Western IllinoisAccessible
SAT middle 50%Axis 1100–1600
U. Mary Washington
1170–1370
Western IllinoisTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. Mary WashingtonGPA, school record, and prep program required
  • Western IllinoisGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

Western Illinois is a bit larger than U. Mary Washington (4,410 vs. 3,566 undergrads) and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. Mary Washington3.6K
Western Illinois4.4K
Pell Grant share
U. Mary Washington21%
Western Illinois28%

Majors and faculty

Business Administration and Management leads at U. Mary Washington, and Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration at Western Illinois.

Students per faculty member
U. Mary Washington13 to 1
Western Illinois12 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. Mary WashingtonBusiness Administration and Management, General17%
  • Western IllinoisCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration14%

What each costs

Western Illinois costs about $3.3K less a year than U. Mary Washington on average; U. Mary Washington's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
U. Mary Washington$24.2K
Western Illinois$20.9K
Aid generosity
U. Mary Washington30%
Western Illinois28%

What each pays off

U. Mary Washington's former students earn more, a median $60.6K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. Mary Washington$60.6K
Western Illinois$54.2K
Graduation rate
U. Mary Washington71%
Western Illinois57%

How each has changed

Applications held steady at U. Mary Washington but fell at Western Illinois; U. Mary Washington got less selective while Western Illinois held steady.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. Mary WashingtonSteady−4%
  • Western IllinoisShrinking−19%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why