University News
Western Continues High Marks in College Rankings
August 22, 2008
MACOMB -- Western Illinois University continues to be ranked in the top tier of Midwest Universities Master's granting institutions, according to U.S. News and World Report's Annual College Rankings 2009 edition. Western has also been re-named a Best Midwestern College by the Princeton Review.
As a top tier Midwestern University in U.S. News and World Report ratings, Western has established an outstanding record for quality, access to education and affordability, according to Joe Rives, vice president for Quad Cities, planning and technology. Western is among 21 public universities included in the Midwest top tier of 67 masters institutions.
"There are multiple measures that come into play for the U.S. News and World Report ratings. The top tier designation is made possible based on what we provide our students -- small classes, a low student-faculty ratio and our graduation and retention rates," Rives noted.
In addition to the U.S. News and Princeton Review acknowledgments, Western was selected as one of only two Illinois public universities for the Center for Student Opportunity's (CSO) "College Access and Opportunity Guide" for its retention of first-generation and low-income students. Western also received a "Best Practice" recognition from the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity as one of only 13 institutions nationally for the retention of first-generation and low-income students.
"We provide an outstanding academic experience that is accessible and affordable; our cost guarantee has served as a model for other universities in the United States," President Al Goldfarb said.
In 1999 Western established its Cost Guarantee program in which students entering Western are guaranteed they will pay the same rate for tuition, fees and on-campus room and board for their four years of continuous enrollment. The WIU Cost Guarantee is the only public university program in Illinois that provides no increases in fees and room and board in addition to the Illinois statutory requirement of guaranteed four-year tuition rates. The guarantee was expanded to include graduate degree-seeking students in 2004.
Western also offers a special admission program to select students who wish to enroll, but have not achieved the minimum requirements for general admission. Among the entering freshman class of approximately 1,900 each year, Western admits 300 new freshmen who show academic promise but do not meet all minimum entrance standards.
"Western's commitment to academic excellence and educational opportunity -- two of its core values -- are our key focus," Goldfarb said. "Recognition from the U.S. News and World Report, the Princeton Review, the Pell Institute and the Center for Student Opportunity demonstrates that we are doing an exceptional job in providing academic excellence and educational opportunity."
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: