IWU vs. ISU

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State 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
Illinois State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • ISU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • ISU 21,546
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • ISU #502
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • ISU -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • ISU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • ISU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • ISU $16,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • ISU $28,210
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • ISU $11,754
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • ISU $21,369
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • ISU $12,974
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • ISU 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • ISU 21,573
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • ISU 19,017
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • ISU 88.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • ISU 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • ISU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • ISU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • ISU 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • ISU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • ISU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • ISU
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • ISU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • ISU 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • ISU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • ISU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • ISU 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • ISU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • ISU 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • ISU $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • ISU $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • ISU 42%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • ISU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • ISU Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • ISU No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • ISU 77%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • ISU 2%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • ISU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • ISU 9%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • ISU 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • ISU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • ISU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • ISU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • ISU 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois State University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Illinois State University is in Normal, IL (Small City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Illinois State University 19:1.

IWU vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or ISU? 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 State University than IWU ($21,369 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 12.1% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($11,754 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 257.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $41,560 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $16,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 104.6% higher at IWU than at Illinois State University (about $29,494 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Illinois State University (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 225.1% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($42,181 vs. $12,974).

IWU vs. ISU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 130 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Illinois State University 990/1210.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Illinois State University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; ISU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 22.5% at ISU.

IWU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and ISU? 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 Illinois State University's (71%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 74%)

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.