After Western Illinois University: graduation, pay and debt
Macomb, Illinois · Public · 4,410 undergrads
45% of Western Illinois University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $57,175 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $20,168 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$57.2k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
45%
finish within six years.
31%
finish in four years.
61%
of first-years come back for year two.
$20.2k
median federal debt at graduation.
59%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
31%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
45%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
61%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
41%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
48%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
1,186
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
52%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
32%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
1,544
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
32%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$46,562
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$57,175
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
69%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$20,168
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$19,762
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$22,811
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$15,000
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
59%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
69%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
77%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers