Illinois College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College

Should I go to Illinois College or Iowa Wesleyan College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Illinois College or Iowa Wesleyan College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Illinois College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College comparison
Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College College 3 College 4
Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
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Overview

Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
Location Jacksonville, IL Mount Pleasant, IA
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,029 871
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #687
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ic.edu iwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
Tuition (In State) $35,796 $33,550
Tuition (Out of State) $35,796 $33,550
Room & Board $9,964 $11,340
Avg Net Price $16,296 $20,074
Avg Grant Aid $29,785 $26,670
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,243 2,975
Admitted 2,503 2,404
Acceptance Rate 77.2% 80.8%
Enrolled % 9.3% 8%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.02
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 16/22
SAT Range 960/1126 830/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
Graduation Rate 57% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,300 $36,900
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
% Men 47% 56%
% Women 53% 44%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 69% 52%
% Black 12% 9%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 24%

Students

Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
% In-State 70% 25%
% Out-of-State 21% 60%

Campus

Illinois College Iowa Wesleyan College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois College is larger than than Iowa Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (1,029 students vs. 871 students)

Illinois College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois College or Iowa Wesleyan College?

  • Illinois College is 6.7% more expensive to attend than Iowa Wesleyan College for in-state tuition ($35,796.00 vs. $33,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.7% higher at Illinois College than Iowa Wesleyan College ($35,796.00 vs. $33,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois College than Iowa Wesleyan College ($16,296 vs. $20,074)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois College are 13.8% lower than costs at Iowa Wesleyan College ($9,964 vs. $11,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois College than Iowa Wesleyan College (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois College students is 11.7% larger than aid received Iowa Wesleyan College ($29,785 vs. $26,670)

Illinois College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois College or Iowa Wesleyan College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Iowa Wesleyan College or Illinois College .

  • Accepted freshman Illinois College students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (3.02)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Illinois College (77.2%)

Illinois College vs. Iowa Wesleyan College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois College or Iowa Wesleyan College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Iowa Wesleyan College and Illinois College.

  • The graduation rate at Illinois College is higher than Iowa Wesleyan College (57% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Illinois College earn on average $8,400 more per year than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates after ten years. ($45,300 vs. $36,900)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Illinois College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Illinois College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Wesleyan College students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/