Western Illinois University has been designated as an Opportunity College and University by Carnegie Classification, recognizing WIU as an institution that serves as a model for fostering student success, explains Vice President of Student Success Justin Schuch:
“Only sixteen percent of institutions across the country have that classification and what that means is really recognition for the fact that the university is a place where we have extreme access for students. We serve individuals from multiple backgrounds, lower socioeconomic status to extreme high place of access, but also recognizes the earnings that our students have. We look eight years out, the average earning of a WIU graduate is over $48,000. As we compare to other institutions and the populations we serve, WIU is number one in the state there for that.”
Earlier this year, Western Illinois University was also recognized as a Research College and University by the American Council on Education.
