DePaul vs. IWU

Deciding between DePaul University and Illinois Wesleyan University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

DePaul University
Illinois Wesleyan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePaul Chicago, IL
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Setting
  • DePaul Large City
  • IWU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • DePaul 21,210
  • IWU 1,582
  • Type
  • DePaul Private 4 Year
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePaul #253
  • IWU #157
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePaul Roman Catholic
  • IWU -
  • Status
  • DePaul Non-profit
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePaul
  • IWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • IWU $57,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • IWU $57,704
  • Room & Board
  • DePaul $19,095
  • IWU $13,370
  • Average Net Price
  • DePaul $34,135
  • IWU $28,644
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePaul $29,285
  • IWU $42,181
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePaul 100%
  • IWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePaul 31,266
  • IWU 9,558
  • Admitted
  • DePaul 23,729
  • IWU 3,757
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePaul 75.9%
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Enrolled
  • DePaul 10.8%
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePaul 1240
  • IWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePaul 28
  • IWU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePaul 3.8
  • IWU 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePaul A-
  • IWU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePaul Difficult
  • IWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePaul
  • IWU High
  • ACT Range
  • DePaul 25/31
  • IWU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • DePaul 1140/1330
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePaul Test optional
  • IWU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DePaul Feb 1, 2027
  • IWU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePaul 17:1
  • IWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePaul
    • Business (33%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePaul 66%
  • IWU 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePaul $56,900
  • IWU $60,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePaul 62%
  • IWU 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePaul $23,332
  • IWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePaul $241
  • IWU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePaul 45%
  • IWU 50%
  • % Women
  • DePaul 55%
  • IWU 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePaul High
  • IWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • DePaul No
  • IWU No
  • % White
  • DePaul 55%
  • IWU 71%
  • % Asian
  • DePaul 8%
  • IWU 4%
  • % Black
  • DePaul 8%
  • IWU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePaul 18%
  • IWU 7%
  • % Native American
  • DePaul 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePaul 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePaul 4%
  • IWU 3%
  • % International
  • DePaul 3%
  • IWU 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePaul 4%
  • IWU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePaul 64%
  • IWU 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePaul 32%
  • IWU 15%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • DePaul Yes
  • IWU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • DePaul No
  • IWU No
  • Meal Plan
  • DePaul Yes
  • IWU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • DePaul Yes
  • IWU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • DePaul No
  • IWU No

Comparable Facts

Compare DePaul University in Chicago, IL with Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

DePaul University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (21,210 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePaul University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting).
  • DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: DePaul University 17:1; Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1.

DePaul vs. IWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePaul or IWU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois Wesleyan University than DePaul ($28,644 vs. $34,135).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 30% lower than at DePaul University ($13,370 vs. $19,095).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 25.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than DePaul (about $11,705 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $45,999.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.4% higher at IWU than at DePaul University (about $11,705 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $45,999.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at DePaul University as at Illinois Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 44% larger than aid received by DePaul University students ($42,181 vs. $29,285).

DePaul vs. IWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePaul or IWU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between IWU and DePaul.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at DePaul University (1240) is 10 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming DePaul students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 1140/1330; Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 25/31; Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePaul - Test optional; IWU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePaul Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at DePaul (3.8).
  • DePaul has a higher acceptance rate (75.9%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at DePaul vs. 12.3% at IWU.

DePaul vs. IWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePaul and IWU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Illinois Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than DePaul University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than DePaul graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DePaul University graduates have a $3,668 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($23,332 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, DePaul graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($241 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DePaul students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.