Western Illinois University
62%
Acceptance rate
$18,020
Tuition/yr
7,500
Enrollment
About Western Illinois University
Public university in Illinois. Strong business, education, and liberal arts programs.
Western Illinois University (WIU) is a public university founded in 1899 and located in Macomb, Illinois, approximately 240 miles southwest of Chicago. It operates four colleges, Arts and Sciences, Business and Technology, Education and Human Services, and Fine Arts and Communication, and holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
WIU offers 69 undergraduate majors and 42 graduate degree and certificate programs. The College of Business and Technology holds AACSB accreditation, a distinction held by fewer than 6 percent of business schools worldwide. Nursing holds CCNE accreditation, and Music and Art programs carry NASM and NASAD accreditations respectively. Ninety-five percent of courses are taught by full-time faculty, which is unusually high for a public university of its size.
The Macomb campus spans 1,050 acres with 64 buildings; a second campus operates in Moline (Quad Cities). Fall 2025 enrollment stood at 5,337 students, a figure that has declined in recent years. WIU is ranked 74th among Regional Universities Midwest by U.S. News (2025 edition) and does not appear in global QS or Times Higher Education world rankings.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
IL
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates qualify for 12-month OPT. STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- WIU offers a Regional Diversity Scholarship worth USD 3,000 per year, renewable for up to four years, specifically targeting students from underrepresented regions including South and Southeast Asia, making Nepali applicants directly eligible, provided they maintain a 3.0 GPA.
- Annual international undergraduate tuition is approximately USD 18,020, placing WIU in a lower cost bracket compared to flagship state universities, which is meaningful for Nepali families managing overseas education costs without significant parental income.
- STEM-designated programs at WIU qualify graduates for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving Nepali students on F-1 visas up to three years of US work authorization after graduation, a significant advantage for those aiming to gain international work experience before returning or pursuing further immigration pathways.
- The university has a rolling admission deadline and a 71 percent acceptance rate, making it accessible for Nepali students with solid but not exceptional academic records, while the small campus size (around 5,300 students) means easier access to faculty and student support services compared to larger institutions.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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