IWU vs. Meredith

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Meredith 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
Meredith College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Meredith Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Meredith Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Meredith 1,465
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Meredith Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Meredith #368
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Meredith -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Meredith Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Meredith

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Meredith $45,630
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Meredith $45,630
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Meredith $13,280
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Meredith $24,323
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Meredith $33,116
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Meredith 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Meredith 1,983
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Meredith 1,471
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Meredith 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Meredith 18.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Meredith 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Meredith 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Meredith 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Meredith A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Meredith Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Meredith Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Meredith 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Meredith 1098/1348
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Meredith Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Meredith Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Meredith 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Meredith
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (10%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Meredith 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Meredith $40,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Meredith 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Meredith $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Meredith $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Meredith 2%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Meredith 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Meredith Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Meredith No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Meredith 71%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Meredith 3%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Meredith 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Meredith 3%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Meredith 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Meredith 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Meredith 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Meredith 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Meredith 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Meredith 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Meredith 18%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than Meredith based on total student enrollment (1,582 students vs. 1,465 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Meredith College is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Meredith College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Meredith College 10:1.

IWU vs. Meredith Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Meredith? 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 Meredith College than IWU ($24,323 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Meredith College are 0.7% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($13,280 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 26.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Meredith (about $12,074 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $45,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.5% higher at IWU than at Meredith College (about $12,074 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $45,630.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Meredith College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 27.4% larger than aid received by Meredith College students ($42,181 vs. $33,116).

IWU vs. Meredith Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 10 points higher than at Meredith (1220).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Meredith).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Meredith College 1098/1348.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Meredith College 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Meredith - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Meredith Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Meredith (3.52).
  • Meredith has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 18.5% at Meredith.

IWU vs. Meredith Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Meredith? 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 Meredith College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $20,500 more per year than Meredith graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Meredith College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Meredith graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Meredith students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 65%)

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.