ISU vs. IWU

Deciding between Illinois State University and Indiana Wesleyan University Marion? 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.

Illinois State University
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • IWU Marion, IN
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • IWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • IWU 2,204
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • IWU #239
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • IWU Wesleyan
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • IWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • IWU $32,352
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • IWU $32,352
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • IWU $10,868
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • IWU $23,402
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • IWU $21,405
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • IWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • IWU 3,761
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • IWU 3,345
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • IWU 88.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • IWU 17%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • IWU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • IWU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • IWU 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • IWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • IWU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • IWU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • IWU 19/28
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • IWU 960/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • IWU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • IWU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • IWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • IWU
    • Business (56%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • IWU 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • IWU $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • IWU 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • IWU $24,104
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • IWU $249

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • IWU 40%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • IWU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • IWU Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • IWU No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • IWU 73%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • IWU 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • IWU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • IWU 4%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • IWU 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • IWU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • IWU 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • IWU 32%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Indiana Wesleyan University Marion in Marion, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 2,204 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is in Marion, IN (Distant Town setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 12:1.

ISU vs. IWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU 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 State University than IWU ($21,369 vs. $23,402).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion are 7.5% lower than at Illinois State University ($10,868 vs. $11,754).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is 100.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $16,208 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at IWU than at Illinois State University (about $4,142 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University Marion students is 65% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($21,405 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. IWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU 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 ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 30 points higher than at IWU (1070).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 960/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 19/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; IWU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than ISU (88.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 17% at IWU.

ISU vs. IWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU 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 State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Indiana Wesleyan University Marion's (70%).
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University Marion earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $2,104 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($22,000 vs. $24,104).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($227 vs. $249).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 55%)

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.