IWU vs. Lawrence

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Lawrence 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
Lawrence University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Lawrence #202
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Lawrence -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Lawrence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Lawrence 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Lawrence 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Lawrence A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Lawrence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Lawrence $282

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Lawrence 48%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Lawrence Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Lawrence No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Lawrence 70%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Lawrence 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Lawrence 7%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Lawrence 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Lawrence 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Lawrence 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Lawrence 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Lawrence 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than Lawrence based on total student enrollment (1,582 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Lawrence University is in Appleton, WI (Small City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Lawrence University 7:1.

IWU vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence University than IWU ($27,161 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 9% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($12,165 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lawrence (about $722 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at IWU than at Lawrence University (about $722 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Lawrence University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($42,688 vs. $42,181).

IWU vs. Lawrence Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lawrence University (1310) is 80 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming IWU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at Lawrence (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Lawrence University 1200/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Lawrence University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Lawrence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Lawrence (3.52).
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 16.8% at Lawrence.

IWU vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Lawrence? 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 Lawrence University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois Wesleyan University graduates have a $350 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, IWU graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($279 vs. $282).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 76%)

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.