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FY11 Performance Dashboard - December 16, 2010
Affordability and Financial Strength Details

 

FY11 Performance Dashboard Table of Contents Download PDF of printed report.

Western Illinois University maintains a strong tradition to cost predictability and affordability.

Macomb Campus Performance

From the time of application during the senior year of high school until college graduation, a student could have experienced four tuition and fee increases. However, Western’s Cost Guarantee assumes no cost increases for four years once the student is enrolled. When dividing the Cost Guarantee over the student’s four years, Western has kept the all-costs increases below the average increase in the Higher Education Price Index in four of the last five fiscal years. This has occurred despite the fact that changes in state operating appropriations have not kept to levels at or above inflation, and there were no increases in Fiscal Years 2006 and 2010.

 

Western Illinois University All-Cost Increases, Changes in the Higher Education Price Index,
and Changes in Annual State Appropriations for Fiscal Years 2006 to 2010

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Average Four-Year All-Costs Increase 3.0% 2.1% 2.7% 1.8% 1.5%
Average Four-Year Increase in the Higher Education Price Index 5.1% 2.8% 5.0% 2.3% 0.9%
One-Year Change in State Appropriations (operating) 0.0% 1.5% 1.9% 2.8% 0.0%

 

With limited cost increases, the percent of students graduating from Macomb with loans decreased during 2009, and the average debt load of these graduates increased by only $295 or 1.7%.

Percent of Western Illinois University Graduates with Loans
and the Average Debt Load of Graduating Students with Loans for Fiscal Years 2006 to 2010

  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Percent of Graduates with Loans
 62% 62% 62% 67% 60%
Average Debt Load
 $14,850 $14,850 $16,400 $17,272 $17,567

 

 

Benchmark Comparisons

Western is at the average of statewide and national comparisons in the percent of graduating students with loans, but above average in the amount of loans. As an institution of opportunity, Western serves many first-generation and low-income students. More than 76% of Western’s undergraduate students receive some type of financial assistance. In 2008–2009 more than $118 million in financial assistance was distributed. Of that total, over $43 million was in the form of grants that do not have to be repaid, and $75 million was through loans and campus employment. Continuation of modest cost increases, Cost Guarantee programs, and a comprehensive campaign focusing on scholarships are three institutional measures to help reduce student reliance on loans.

Percent of Graduates with Loans and the
Average Debt Load of Graduating Students with Loans for Fiscal Year 2009

  WIU Low Average High
Illinois Public University Subset        
Percent of Graduates with Loans 60% 59% 64% 76%
Average Debt Load $17,567 $14,226 $16,189 $18,728
All Illinois Public Universities*        
Percent of Graduates with Loans 60% 50% 61% 76%
Average Debt Load $17,567 $14,233 $17,138 $18,728

*University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Northern Illinois University, Northeastern Illinois University, and Chicago State University did not report data.

 

 

Percent of Graduates with Loans

College of Charleston 44%
James Madison 46%
Appalachian State 50%
Western Washington 50%
Western Kentucky 57%
Eastern Illinois 59%
Montclair State 59%
Central Washington 60%
Western Illinois 60%
Wisconsin-Whitewater 68%
Northern Iowa 80%
Sam Houston State 85%
Missouri State 92%

Average Debt Load

Eastern Illinois $14,233
Western Kentucky $15,042
Appalachian State $15,080
Western Washington $15,560
Sam Houston State $15,763
Central Washington $16,914
College of Charleston $17,139
James Madison $17,395
Western Illinois $17,567
Missouri State $18,379
Montclair State $18,940
Wisconsin-Whitewater $19,743
Northern Iowa $24,123

 

On the Quad Cities campus, the average debt load of 2009 graduates was $11,822. The average debt includes all loans from previous institutions, and is one-third of local private, four-year institutions.

 

Percent of Graduates with Loans

Western Illinois-Quad Cities
59%
Illinois-Springfield
 64%
Pennsylvania State-Harrisburg
 67%
St. Ambrose
 77%

Average Debt Load

Western Illinois-Quad Cities $11,822
Illinois-Springfield $14,226
Pennsylvania State-Harrisburg $14,717
St. Ambrose $33,216

 

While maintaining commitments to affordability, it is important to note a fundamental change in state financing of Illinois public higher education. Annual state operating appropriations are below Western’s all-costs increases and the Higher Education Price Index. This, coupled with unfunded state mandates, has made the University increasingly reliant on the University Income Fund. State appropriations now account for less than one-half of the University’s annual general revenue appropriation.

Western Illinois University Appropriation History*
Fiscal Years 2006 to 2010

 
 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total Appropration
 $103.2 $109.7 $118.3 $121.9 $123.9
Percent Change
 5.6% 6.4% 7.8% 3.1% 1.6%
General Revenue Fund $56.4 $57.2 $58.3 $59.9 $59.9
Percent Change 0.0% 1.5% 1.9% 2.8% 0.0%
University Income Fund $46.8 $52.5 $60.0 $62.0 $64.0
Percent Change 13.2% 12.3% 14.3% 3.3% 3.2%
Income Fund Percent Total
 45.3% 47.9% 50.7% 50.9% 51.7%

*$ reported in millions

 

Through conservative fiscal management, Western Illinois University contains costs and provides resources to support the academic mission and service operations of the University. The following financial ratios described in Strategic Financial Analysis for Higher Education (6th Edition) document the University’s financial strength.

The primary reserve ratio demonstrates financial strength. A negative or decreasing trend over time would have indicated a weakening financial condition. The net operating revenue shows that Western has operated with a surplus in six of the last seven years, therefore enabling the University to carry forward funds in conjunction with limitations established in Illinois statutes for public institutions. The viability ratio has also more than doubled since 2003, giving the University additional expendable net assets to satisfy debt obligations. While the return on net assets ratio is quite volatile and sensitive to inflationary and other economic conditions, including the recent recession, Western Illinois University maintains a constant return on net assets ratio.

Western Illinois University Financial Ratios Reported to the Higher Learning Commission
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Fiscal Years 2003 to 2009

 
  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Primary Reserve Ratio
 		0.090 0.072 0.082 0.101 0.139 0.167
 0.061
Net Operating Reserve Ratio 0.004 -0.013 0.021 0.017 0.033 0.014 0.006
Return on Net Assets Ratio

0.060

 0.056 0.069 0.083 0.102 0.052 0.026
Viability Ratio
 		0.299
 0.315
 0.357 0.335 0.545 0.730 0.800

 

Western is committed to efficiently allocating resources. Between Fiscal Years 2005 and 2009, the University achieved its goal of remaining below the statewide average on instructional costs per credit hour. Western’s value of $267.16 is 11.1% below the statewide average.

Instructional Costs per Credit Hour at Illinois Public Universities
Fiscal Years 2005 to 2009

 
  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Chicago State
$290.03 $309.97 $323.57 $324.20
 $343.58
Eastern Illinois $232.03 $237.85 $247.15 $262.43 $268.70
Governors State $278.25 $299.12 $314.03 $313.87 $324.60
Illinois State $209.78 $225.52 $235.88 $243.58 $257.72
Northeastern Illinois $227.10 $232.52 $237.91 $255.41 $271.20
Northern Illinois $233.22 $235.35 $244.96 $265.46 $278.29
Southern Illinois-Carbondale $257.69 $275.18 $283.79 $294.79 $304.92
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville $215.12 $222.70 $227.40 $236.75 $246.60
Illinois-Chicago $292.95 $299.55 $321.29 $324.64 $338.75
Illinois-Springfield $248.97 $259.15 $313.24 $346.59 $334.89
Illinois-Urbana/Champaign $322.90 $314.84 $327.46 $343.15 $336.21
Western Illinois $211.97 $220.02 $235.21 $250.82 $267.16
State Average $261.31 $266.81 $279.58 $292.74 $300.52

 

Percent WIU is Below State Avg in Instructional Costs per Credit Hour

 

Likewise, the University has achieved its goal of remaining below the statewide average on administrative costs per credit hour. Western’s value of $68.90 is 16.8% below the statewide average.

Administrative Costs per Credit Hour at Illinois Public Universities
Fiscal Years 2005 to 2009

 
  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Chicago State
$121.46 $131.99 $131.76 $130.16
 $137.81
Eastern Illinois $69.19 $71.22 $71.84 $75.87 $79.53
Governors State $100.51 $111.93 $124.00 $129.85 $134.07
Illinois State $66.77 $73.14 $77.60 $76.59 $84.67
Northeastern Illinois $71.71 $59.13 $60.86 $66.11 $68.42
Northern Illinois $73.90 $86.95 $80.87 $91.89 $95.17
Southern Illinois-Carbondale $78.54 $81.43 $80.70 $87.58 $84.46
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville $58.81 $60.01 $60.47 $65.28 $64.03
Illinois-Chicago $69.28 $65.99 $72.28 $70.81 $75.81
Illinois-Springfield $81.89 $90.58 $95.41 $121.33 $116.76
Illinois-Urbana/Champaign $73.97 $63.18 $68.96 $77.70 $77.88
Western Illinois $51.47 $54.93 $59.92 $63.55 $68.90
State Average $72.09 $72.20 $74.79 $80.38 $82.82

 

Percent WIU is Below State Avg in Administrative Costs per Credit Hour

 

Limited staff growth helps to control administrative costs. The percent increase in the total number of staff at Western was below the average of all other Illinois public universities. Staff headcounts are reported in the table below as there is no published data for non-faculty staff years. Headcount serves as a proxy for staff years as most staff members are on a 12-month contract and would be counted as one staff year.

Staff Headcount at Western Illinois University Compared to All Other Illinois Public Universities
Fiscal Years 2005 and 2009

  Fiscal Year Difference
Fall Staff Headcount 2005 2009 Number Percent
Western Illinois University 1,325 1,368 43 3.2%
All Other Illinois Public Universities 28,642 32,769 4,127 14.4%