How this school serves students from different economic backgrounds, including Pell students, first-generation pathways, and long-term mobility outcomes.
Western Illinois University ranks at the 60th percentile for access, reflecting above-average enrollment of diverse student populations. The university admits 75% of applicants while enrolling 28.1% Pell-eligible students and 37.7% first-generation students. Transfer students comprise 39.5% of enrollment, indicating strong accommodation of non-traditional educational pathways. This combination of moderate selectivity with meaningful access for underrepresented populations positions Western Illinois as reasonably accessible while maintaining academic standards that support strong outcomes.
The university's mobility quadrant designation as an Opportunity Builder reflects its balanced approach to access and outcomes. Western Illinois combines reasonable admission rates with meaningful enrollment of underrepresented populations while generating earnings that exceed expectations. The 37.7% first-generation share provides substantial peer support for students navigating college as the first in their families, while strong value-added performance ensures these students achieve meaningful economic returns on their educational investment.
Western Illinois University achieves above-average mobility performance, ranking at the 74th percentile nationally in supporting economic advancement for diverse student populations. Low-income graduates earn $42,600, demonstrating solid outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The positive Pell completion gap, where Pell-eligible students graduate at 52.8% compared to the overall 44.8% rate, indicates effective institutional support systems for lower-income students. Graduates earn $11,979 beyond expectations, placing the institution at the 88th percentile for value-added performance. This combination of access for first-generation and Pell-eligible students alongside strong earnings outcomes demonstrates Western Illinois University's effectiveness as a mobility engine for economic advancement.
Pell-eligible students at Western Illinois University graduate at a 52.8% rate, exceeding the overall graduation rate of 44.8% by 8 percentage points. This positive gap indicates the university has developed effective support systems specifically for lower-income students, helping them succeed at higher rates than their more advantaged peers.
