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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU IWU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University Taylor University IIT| Illinois State University | Indiana Wesleyan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | IWU | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Marion, IN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 2,207 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #236 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Wesleyan | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | indwes.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | IWU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $31,168 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $31,168 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $10,554 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | $23,364 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $19,595 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 100% |
Admission |
ISU | IWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | 3,035 | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | 2,495 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 82.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | 20% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.61 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 19/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 970/1180 | ||
| 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 | Apr 1, 2026 |
Academics |
ISU | IWU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | IWU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $54,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 55% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $24,104 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $249 |
Diversity |
ISU | IWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
ISU | IWU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 39% | ||
Campus |
ISU | IWU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 2,207 students)
ISU vs. IWU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or IWU?
- Indiana Wesleyan University is 158.3% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($31,168.00 vs. $12,066.00)
- Out of state tuition is 29.2% higher at IWU than Illinois State University ($31,168.00 vs. $24,131.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than IWU ($20,871 vs. $23,364)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University are 9.8% lower than costs at Illinois State University ($10,554 vs. $11,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University students is 69.1% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($19,595 vs. $11,590)
ISU vs. IWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or IWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between IWU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 4 points higher than at IWU (1086)
- Incoming ISU students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at IWU (24)
- Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at ISU (3.41)
- ISU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than IWU (82.2%)
ISU vs. IWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or IWU? 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 IWU and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Indiana Wesleyan University (71% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University earn on average $5,300 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $49,000)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $2,104 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,104)
- ISU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans 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/