Western Illinois University Acceptance Rate
Macomb, Illinois · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 8,479
- Admitted
- 6,356
- Yield
- 15.2%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Western Illinois University's acceptance rate has risen from 69.6% in 2014–15 to 75% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 10,671 to 8,479 (-21%) over that period.
Its 75% rate makes Western Illinois University more selective than about 53% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 50 tracked Illinois schools, it is more selective than about 46%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (78.3% for women vs 70.2% for men, a 8.1-point gap). Western Illinois University has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 15.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 10,671 | 7,431 | 69.6% | 1,605 |
| 2015–16 | 10,877 | 6,534 | 60.1% | 1,535 |
| 2016–17 | 10,191 | 6,059 | 59.5% | 1,527 |
| 2017–18 | 9,767 | 5,857 | 60% | 1,206 |
| 2018–19 | 9,151 | 5,379 | 58.8% | 934 |
| 2019–20 | 7,302 | 4,137 | 56.7% | 895 |
| 2020–21 | 7,603 | 5,091 | 67% | 1,064 |
| 2021–22 | 7,156 | 5,187 | 72.5% | 920 |
| 2022–23 | 9,219 | 6,914 | 75% | 1,074 |
| 2023–24 | 8,479 | 6,356 | 75% | 968 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 5,000 | 3,915 | 78.3% |
| Men | 3,479 | 2,441 | 70.2% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How Western Illinois University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Western Illinois University's acceptance rate?
Western Illinois University's acceptance rate is 75% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (6,356 admitted of 8,479 applicants).
Is Western Illinois University test optional?
Western Illinois University is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to Western Illinois University?
Western Illinois University received 8,479 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 6,356.
Is Western Illinois University getting harder to get into?
Western Illinois University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 69.6% in 2014–15 to 75% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.wiu.edu/.