IWU vs. Earlham

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Earlham College? 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
Earlham College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Earlham Richmond, IN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Earlham Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Earlham 753
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Earlham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Earlham
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Earlham Friends
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Earlham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Earlham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Earlham $13,985
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Earlham $27,107
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Earlham $40,618
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Earlham 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Earlham 2,075
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Earlham 1,517
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Earlham 73.1%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Earlham 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Earlham 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Earlham 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Earlham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Earlham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Earlham Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Earlham Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Earlham 24/33
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Earlham 1110/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Earlham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Earlham Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Earlham 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Earlham
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Earlham 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Earlham $39,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Earlham 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Earlham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Earlham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Earlham 47%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Earlham 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Earlham High
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Earlham No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Earlham 51%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Earlham 5%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Earlham 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Earlham 6%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Earlham 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Earlham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Earlham 0%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Earlham 22%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Earlham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Earlham 39%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Earlham 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than Earlham based on total student enrollment (1,582 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Earlham College is in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Earlham College 7:1.

IWU vs. Earlham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Earlham? 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 Earlham College than IWU ($27,107 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 4.4% lower than at Earlham College ($13,370 vs. $13,985).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Earlham (about $3,774 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,930.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at IWU than at Earlham College (about $3,774 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,930.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Earlham College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Earlham College students ($42,181 vs. $40,618).

IWU vs. Earlham Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 30 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
  • Incoming Earlham students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Earlham College 1110/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Earlham College 24/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Earlham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Earlham (3.67).
  • Earlham has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 13.9% at Earlham.

IWU vs. Earlham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Earlham? 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 Earlham College's (66%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $21,400 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Earlham College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Earlham 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 Earlham students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 75%)

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.