IWU vs. Belmont

Should I go to Illinois Wesleyan University or Belmont University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IWU or Belmont 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Lipscomb Samford University Middle Tennessee State University Vanderbilt ISU Bradley Elon Butler Trevecca Nazarene University Illinois Tennessee Wooster
Illinois Wesleyan University vs. Belmont University comparison
Illinois Wesleyan University Belmont University College 3 College 4
Illinois Wesleyan University Belmont University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

IWU Belmont
Location Bloomington, IL Nashville, TN
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 1,527 8,910
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #144 #317
Religious Affiliation - Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwu.edu belmont.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU Belmont
Tuition (In State) $53,610 $38,000
Tuition (Out of State) $53,610 $38,000
Room & Board $12,418 $13,670
Avg Net Price $30,096 $36,225
Avg Grant Aid $36,614 $22,080
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

IWU Belmont
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,408 9,163
Admitted 1,861 8,821
Acceptance Rate 42.2% 96.3%
Enrolled % 20.5% 21.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.83
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 24/30
SAT Range 1120/1330 1150/1340
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

IWU Belmont
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (34%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)
  • Communications Technology (5%)

Outcomes

IWU Belmont
Graduation Rate 82% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,500 $49,100
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,780
Median Loan Payment $279 $225

Diversity

IWU Belmont
% Men 51% 33%
% Women 49% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 80%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 7% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 9% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

IWU Belmont
% In-State 77% 27%
% Out-of-State 14% 72%

Campus

IWU Belmont
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

  • Belmont University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (8,910 students vs. 1,527 students)

IWU vs. Belmont Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Belmont?

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 41.1% more expensive to attend than Belmont for in-state tuition ($53,610.00 vs. $38,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.1% higher at IWU than Belmont University ($53,610.00 vs. $38,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois Wesleyan University than Belmont ($30,096 vs. $36,225)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 10.1% lower than costs at Belmont University ($12,418 vs. $13,670)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Belmont University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 65.8% larger than aid received Belmont University ($36,614 vs. $22,080)

IWU vs. Belmont Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 91 points higher than at Belmont (1158)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Belmont (26)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Belmont (3.83)
  • Belmont has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than IWU (42.2%)

IWU vs. Belmont Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IWU or Belmont? 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 Belmont and IWU.

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Belmont University (82% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $11,400 more per year than Belmont graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $49,100)
  • Belmont University students graduate with a $5,220 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($21,780 vs. $27,000)
  • Belmont graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($225 vs. $279)
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Belmont students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 76%)

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