IWU vs. Kenyon

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Kenyon 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
Kenyon College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Kenyon #62
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Kenyon -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Kenyon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Kenyon 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Kenyon 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Kenyon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Kenyon High
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Kenyon $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Kenyon 44%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Kenyon 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Kenyon Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Kenyon No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Kenyon 73%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Kenyon 7%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Kenyon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Kenyon 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Kenyon 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Kenyon 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Kenyon 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Kenyon 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Kenyon College is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,249 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Kenyon College is in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Kenyon College 9:1.

IWU vs. Kenyon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Kenyon? 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 Kenyon ($28,644 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 14.5% lower than at Kenyon College ($13,370 vs. $15,640).
  • Kenyon College is 23.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than IWU (about $13,816 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.9% higher at Kenyon than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $13,816 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Kenyon College (100% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 3.6% larger than aid received by Kenyon College students ($42,181 vs. $40,731).

IWU vs. Kenyon Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kenyon College (1430) is 200 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Kenyon 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; Kenyon College 1358/1503.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Kenyon College 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Kenyon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kenyon Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Kenyon (3.84).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (39.3%) than Kenyon (31%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 18.3% at Kenyon.

IWU vs. Kenyon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Kenyon? 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).

  • Kenyon College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Illinois Wesleyan University's (82%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More Kenyon 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.