IWU vs. Canisius

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Canisius 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
Canisius University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Canisius Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Canisius Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Canisius 2,451
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Canisius Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Canisius #393
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Canisius Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Canisius Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Canisius

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Canisius $34,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Canisius $34,500
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Canisius $13,560
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Canisius $19,666
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Canisius $24,972
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Canisius 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Canisius 4,175
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Canisius 3,021
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Canisius 72.4%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Canisius 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Canisius 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Canisius 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Canisius 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Canisius A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Canisius Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Canisius Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Canisius 22/28
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Canisius 1050/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Canisius Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Canisius

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Canisius 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Canisius
    • Business (25%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Canisius 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Canisius $49,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Canisius 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Canisius $24,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Canisius $255

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Canisius 48%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Canisius 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Canisius Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Canisius No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Canisius 73%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Canisius 2%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Canisius 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Canisius 6%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Canisius 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Canisius 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Canisius 1%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Canisius 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Canisius 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Canisius 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Canisius 15%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Canisius University in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Canisius University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,451 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Canisius University is in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Canisius University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Canisius University 11:1.

IWU vs. Canisius Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Canisius? 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 Canisius University than IWU ($19,666 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 1.4% lower than at Canisius University ($13,370 vs. $13,560).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 67.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Canisius (about $23,204 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $34,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.3% higher at IWU than at Canisius University (about $23,204 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $34,500.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Canisius University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 68.9% larger than aid received by Canisius University students ($42,181 vs. $24,972).

IWU vs. Canisius Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 40 points higher than at Canisius (1190).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Canisius).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Canisius University 1050/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Canisius University 22/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Canisius - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Canisius (3.7).
  • Canisius has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 13.1% at Canisius.

IWU vs. Canisius Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Canisius? 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 Canisius University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $10,600 more per year than Canisius graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $49,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Canisius University graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($24,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Canisius graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($255 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Canisius students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 71%)

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.