IWU vs. Lipscomb

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Lipscomb 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
Lipscomb University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Lipscomb Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Lipscomb Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Lipscomb 5,017
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Lipscomb Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Lipscomb #267
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Lipscomb Churches of Christ
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Lipscomb Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Lipscomb

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Lipscomb $40,572
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Lipscomb $40,572
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Lipscomb $15,424
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Lipscomb $27,695
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Lipscomb $28,645
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Lipscomb 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Lipscomb 4,261
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Lipscomb 2,886
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Lipscomb 67.7%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Lipscomb 24.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Lipscomb 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Lipscomb 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Lipscomb 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Lipscomb A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Lipscomb Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Lipscomb Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Lipscomb 23/30
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Lipscomb 1160/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Lipscomb Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Lipscomb

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Lipscomb 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Lipscomb
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Lipscomb $46,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Lipscomb 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Lipscomb $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Lipscomb $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Lipscomb 37%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Lipscomb Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Lipscomb No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Lipscomb 77%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Lipscomb 3%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Lipscomb 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Lipscomb 7%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Lipscomb 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Lipscomb 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Lipscomb 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Lipscomb 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Lipscomb University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (5,017 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Lipscomb University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lipscomb University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Lipscomb University 13:1.

IWU vs. Lipscomb Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Lipscomb? 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 Lipscomb University than IWU ($27,695 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 13.3% lower than at Lipscomb University ($13,370 vs. $15,424).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 42.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lipscomb (about $17,132 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $40,572.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.2% higher at IWU than at Lipscomb University (about $17,132 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $40,572.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Lipscomb University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 47.3% larger than aid received by Lipscomb University students ($42,181 vs. $28,645).

IWU vs. Lipscomb Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lipscomb University (1270) is 40 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Lipscomb).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Lipscomb University 1160/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Lipscomb University 23/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Lipscomb - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Lipscomb (3.73).
  • Lipscomb has a higher acceptance rate (67.7%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 24.9% at Lipscomb.

IWU vs. Lipscomb Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Lipscomb? 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 Lipscomb University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than Lipscomb graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lipscomb University graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lipscomb graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($211 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lipscomb students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 68%)

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.