Western Illinois University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a self-contained town.

Overview

Western Illinois University, or WIU, is a public university founded in 1899. The main campus is located in Macomb, Illinois, and is spread across an area of 1,050 acres. The university offers various degrees and programs in diverse areas of study. According to US News & World Report college rankings, WIU is classified as a Masters University, one that draws students mainly from the surrounding area rather than nationally, and is committed to graduate education.

WIU is organized into the following academic divisions:

• College of Arts & Sciences
• College of Business & Technology
• College of Education & Human Services
• College of Fine Arts & Communication
• Centennial Honors College

WIU has an active Greek Life. There are more than 15 fraternities and over 10 sororities on campus. The student body of the university has an impressive number of international students. There are various clubs, including the New International Student Orientation (NISO), that assist foreign students with admission into WIU.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Many students concentrating in music, security and law enforcement, real estate and construction management, media, and nutrition and exercise therapy.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• Large number of students.
• Unusually high availability of athletic financial aid.
• Good faculty-to-student ratio.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• High male/female ratio.

School characteristics:

• The school is public.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Masters Colleges and Universities I.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Weekend study is an option.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.
• Athlete financial aid is awarded.

Tuition and Financial Aid (2009-2010)

Financial Aid

Western Illinois University participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.

In 2009-2010, 78% of students received financial aid of some sort.

(Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.)

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Western Illinois University:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 13,175 in 2009-2010 (11,415 full-time equivalent).

About 50% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 50% of the class.

Undergrads are 79% of enrolled students and graduate students are 21%.

Students under 25 years old represent 77% of the student body. About 6% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 100% are full-time and 0% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

Room and Board

Western Illinois University provides on-campus housing for 4,400 of its 11,415 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010). The school requires freshmen to live on campus.

Athletics

School sports include football (Missouri Valley Conference), basketball (Mid-Continent Conference), baseball (Mid-Continent Conference), and track (Mid-Continent Conference).

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 189 male students received the aid (men were 60% of those receiving aid) and 124 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 40% of students receiving such aid) .

Graduate School Focus

Western Illinois University offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Doctorate (Research/Scholarship).

The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Postbaccalaureate Comprehensive.

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT (90 awarded)

• Agriculture

ART STUDIES (27 awarded)

• Art/Art Studies

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (384 awarded)

• Accounting
• Business Administration and Management
• Business/Managerial Economics
• Finance
• Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration
• Logistics and Materials Management
• Management Information Systems
• Marketing/Marketing Management

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (62 awarded)

• Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
• Computer and Information Sciences

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (17 awarded)

• Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
• Visual and Performing Arts

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (528 awarded)

• Bilingual and Multilingual Education
• College Student Counseling and Personnel Services
• Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
• Educational Administration and Supervision
• Educational Leadership and Administration
• Educational/Instructional Media Design
• Elementary Education and Teaching
• Health Teacher Education
• Reading Teacher Education
• Secondary Education and Teaching
• Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
• Special Education and Teaching
• Superintendency and Educational System Administration

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (38 awarded)

• Industrial Technology/Technician
• Manufacturing Technology/Technician

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (160 awarded)

• Community Organization and Advocacy
• Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
• Social Work

FINE ARTS (9 awarded)

• Fine/Studio Arts

LIBERAL ARTS (537 awarded)

• African-American/Black Studies
• Economics
• English Language and Literature
• French Language and Literature
• Geography
• History
• Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
• Political Science and Government
• Sociology
• Spanish Language and Literature
• Women's Studies

MATHEMATICS (14 awarded)

• Mathematics

MEDIA (245 awarded)

• Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
• Graphic and Printing Equipment Operator, General Production
• Journalism
• Radio and Television

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION (19 awarded)

• Health/Health Care Administration/Management

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (2 awarded)

• Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist

MEDICINE (0 awarded)

• Gerontology

MUSIC (51 awarded)

• Music Performance
• Music

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (223 awarded)

• Kinesiology and Exercise Science
• Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
• Sport and Fitness Administration/Management

REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT (52 awarded)

• Construction Management

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY (3 awarded)

• Philosophy
• Religion/Religious Studies

SCIENCE (173 awarded)

• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Geology/Earth Science
• Meteorology
• Physics

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (422 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
• Security and Protective Services

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (169 awarded)

• Communication Disorders
• Psychology
• School Psychology