IWU vs. Loyola

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Loyola University Chicago? 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
Loyola University Chicago

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Loyola Chicago, IL
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Loyola Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Loyola 17,384
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Loyola Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Loyola #210
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Loyola Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Loyola Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Loyola

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Loyola $17,010
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Loyola $39,147
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Loyola $28,816
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Loyola 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Loyola 39,315
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Loyola 32,081
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Loyola 81.6%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Loyola 8.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Loyola 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Loyola 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Loyola 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Loyola A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Loyola Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Loyola
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Loyola 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Loyola 1170/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Loyola Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Loyola

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Loyola 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Loyola
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Loyola 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Loyola $59,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Loyola 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Loyola $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Loyola $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Loyola 31%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Loyola 69%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Loyola High
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Loyola No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Loyola 58%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Loyola 12%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Loyola 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Loyola 14%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Loyola 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Loyola 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Loyola 5%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Loyola 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Loyola 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Loyola 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Loyola 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Loyola University Chicago is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (17,384 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

IWU vs. Loyola Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Loyola? 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 Loyola ($28,644 vs. $39,147).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 21.4% lower than at Loyola University Chicago ($13,370 vs. $17,010).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Loyola (about $3,994 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,710.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at IWU than at Loyola University Chicago (about $3,994 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,710.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Loyola University Chicago (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 46.4% larger than aid received by Loyola University Chicago students ($42,181 vs. $28,816).

IWU vs. Loyola Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Loyola University Chicago (1270) is 40 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Loyola students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Loyola University Chicago 1170/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Loyola University Chicago 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Loyola - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Loyola (3.71).
  • Loyola has a higher acceptance rate (81.6%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 8.6% at Loyola.

IWU vs. Loyola Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Loyola? 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 Loyola University Chicago's (70%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $700 more per year than Loyola graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $59,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Loyola University Chicago graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Loyola graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Loyola 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.