IWU vs. Belmont

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Belmont 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.

Illinois Wesleyan University
Belmont University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Belmont Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Belmont Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Belmont 8,803
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Belmont Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Belmont #300
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Belmont Interdenominational
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Belmont Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Belmont

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Belmont $15,010
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Belmont $38,578
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Belmont $23,992
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Belmont 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Belmont 9,165
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Belmont 8,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Belmont 95.3%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Belmont 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Belmont 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Belmont 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Belmont 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Belmont A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Belmont Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Belmont
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Belmont 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Belmont 1160/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Belmont Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Belmont Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Belmont 34%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Belmont 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Belmont Very Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Belmont No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Belmont 80%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Belmont 2%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Belmont 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Belmont 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Belmont 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Belmont 35%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Belmont 64%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Belmont University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (8,803 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

IWU vs. Belmont Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Belmont? 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 Belmont ($28,644 vs. $38,578).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 10.9% lower than at Belmont University ($13,370 vs. $15,010).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 35.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Belmont (about $15,164 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $42,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.6% higher at IWU than at Belmont University (about $15,164 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $42,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Belmont University (100% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 75.8% larger than aid received by Belmont University students ($42,181 vs. $23,992).

IWU vs. Belmont Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU or Belmont? 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 Belmont and IWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Belmont University (1260) is 30 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming IWU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at Belmont (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Belmont University 1160/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Belmont University 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Belmont - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Belmont Jul 1, 2027.
  • 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 (95.3%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 17.7% at Belmont.

IWU vs. Belmont Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Belmont? 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 Belmont University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Belmont graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $49,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Belmont University graduates have a $5,220 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($21,780 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Belmont graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.