IWU vs. DePauw

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and DePauw 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
DePauw University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • DePauw Greencastle, IN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • DePauw Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • DePauw 1,917
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • DePauw Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • DePauw #99
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • DePauw United Methodist
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • DePauw Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • DePauw

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • DePauw $59,070
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • DePauw $59,070
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • DePauw $15,330
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • DePauw $31,411
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • DePauw $42,909
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • DePauw 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • DePauw 6,683
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • DePauw 3,822
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • DePauw 57.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • DePauw 13.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • DePauw 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • DePauw 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • DePauw 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • DePauw A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • DePauw Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • DePauw Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • DePauw 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • DePauw 1200/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • DePauw Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • DePauw Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • DePauw 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • DePauw
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • DePauw 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • DePauw $61,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • DePauw 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • DePauw $25,588
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • DePauw $264

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • DePauw 50%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • DePauw 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • DePauw Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • DePauw No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • DePauw 71%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • DePauw 4%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • DePauw 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • DePauw 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • DePauw 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • DePauw 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • DePauw 7%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • DePauw 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • DePauw 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • DePauw 40%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • DePauw 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with DePauw University in Greencastle, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

DePauw University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (1,917 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); DePauw University is in Greencastle, IN (Distant Town setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. DePauw University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; DePauw University 10:1.

IWU vs. DePauw Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or DePauw? 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 DePauw ($28,644 vs. $31,411).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 12.8% lower than at DePauw University ($13,370 vs. $15,330).
  • DePauw University is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than IWU (about $1,366 more per year; $59,070.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at DePauw than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $1,366 more per year; $59,070.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at DePauw University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePauw University students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($42,909 vs. $42,181).

IWU vs. DePauw Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at DePauw University (1310) is 80 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming DePauw students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; DePauw University 1200/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; DePauw University 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; DePauw - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePauw Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePauw students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at IWU (3.86).
  • DePauw has a higher acceptance rate (57.2%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 13.2% at DePauw.

IWU vs. DePauw Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and DePauw? 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).

  • DePauw University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Illinois Wesleyan University's (82%).
  • Graduates from DePauw University earn a median of about $500 more per year than IWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,000 vs. $60,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DePauw University graduates have a $1,412 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($25,588 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, DePauw graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($264 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DePauw students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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.