IWU vs. Grinnell

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Grinnell 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
Grinnell College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Grinnell #57
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Grinnell -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Grinnell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Grinnell 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Grinnell 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Grinnell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Grinnell Very High
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Grinnell $136

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Grinnell 46%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Grinnell 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Grinnell High
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Grinnell No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Grinnell 56%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Grinnell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Grinnell 7%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Grinnell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Grinnell 5%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Grinnell 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Grinnell 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Grinnell 8%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Grinnell 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Grinnell College is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (1,788 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Grinnell College is in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Grinnell College 9:1.

IWU vs. Grinnell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Grinnell? 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 Grinnell ($28,644 vs. $34,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 20.6% lower than at Grinnell College ($13,370 vs. $16,842).
  • Grinnell College is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than IWU (about $10,402 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at Grinnell than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $10,402 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Grinnell College (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 16.3% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($49,077 vs. $42,181).

IWU vs. Grinnell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 250 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Grinnell College 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Grinnell College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Grinnell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at IWU (3.86).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (39.3%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 30.9% at Grinnell.

IWU vs. Grinnell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Grinnell? 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).

  • Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Illinois Wesleyan University's (82%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $13,830 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($13,170 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($136 vs. $279).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 87%)

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.