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Northern Illinois Illinois UIC DePaul EIU Western Illinois University WMU Bradley Southern Illinois University IIT ISU IUPUI| Illinois Wesleyan University | Illinois State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
IWU | ISU | ||
| Location | Bloomington, IL | Normal, IL | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,527 | 20,683 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #144 | #493 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iwu.edu | illinoisstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
IWU | ISU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,610 | $11,840 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,610 | $23,681 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,418 | $10,602 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,096 | $20,551 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,614 | $11,619 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 97% |
Admission |
IWU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,408 | 19,596 | ||
| Admitted | 1,861 | 16,899 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 42.2% | 86.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.5% | 23.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.41 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1120/1330 | 1000/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Apr 1, 2025 |
Academics |
IWU | ISU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
IWU | ISU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,500 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $227 |
Diversity |
IWU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 9% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
IWU | ISU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 96% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 3% | ||
Campus |
IWU | ISU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 1,527 students)
IWU vs. ISU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, IWU or ISU?
- Illinois Wesleyan University is 352.8% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($53,610.00 vs. $11,840.00)
- Out of state tuition is 126.4% higher at IWU than Illinois State University ($53,610.00 vs. $23,681.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than IWU ($20,551 vs. $30,096)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 17.1% lower than costs at Illinois Wesleyan University ($10,602 vs. $12,418)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 215.1% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($36,614 vs. $11,619)
IWU vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, IWU or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or IWU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 159 points higher than at ISU (1090)
- Incoming IWU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at ISU (24)
- 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 (86.2%) than IWU (42.2%)
IWU vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, IWU or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and IWU.
- The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Illinois State University (82% vs. 71%)
- Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $11,500 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $49,000)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
- ISU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans 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/