IWU vs. Denison

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Denison 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
Denison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Denison 2,394
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Denison #95
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Denison -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Denison

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Denison $67,000
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Denison $67,000
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Denison $16,400
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Denison $43,721
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Denison $38,179
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Denison 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Denison 15,012
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Denison 2,611
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Denison 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Denison 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Denison 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Denison A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Denison Very High
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Denison 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Denison Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Denison 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Denison 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Denison $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Denison 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Denison $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Denison $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Denison 48%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Denison 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Denison Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Denison No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Denison 66%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Denison 4%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Denison 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Denison 10%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Denison 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Denison 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Denison 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Denison 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Denison 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Denison 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Denison University in Granville, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Denison University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,394 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Denison University is in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Denison University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Denison University 9:1.

IWU vs. Denison Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Denison? 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 Denison ($28,644 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 18.5% lower than at Denison University ($13,370 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 16.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than IWU (about $9,296 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.1% higher at Denison than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $9,296 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Denison University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Denison University students ($42,181 vs. $38,179).

IWU vs. Denison Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 180 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Denison University 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Denison University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Denison - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Denison (3.76).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (39.3%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 23.8% at Denison.

IWU vs. Denison Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Denison? 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 Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Denison University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Denison graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Denison students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.