IWU vs. MSOE

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Milwaukee School of Engineering? 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
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • MSOE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • MSOE Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Milwaukee School of Engineering is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,953 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

IWU vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering than IWU ($25,669 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 4.4% lower than at Milwaukee School of Engineering ($13,370 vs. $13,984).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 14.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSOE (about $7,224 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at IWU than at Milwaukee School of Engineering (about $7,224 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Milwaukee School of Engineering (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 14% larger than aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students ($42,181 vs. $36,997).

IWU vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Milwaukee School of Engineering (1280) is 50 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming IWU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at MSOE (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; MSOE - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at MSOE (3.65).
  • MSOE has a higher acceptance rate (58.9%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

IWU vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering's (57%).
  • Graduates from Milwaukee School of Engineering earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than IWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,900 vs. $60,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Milwaukee School of Engineering and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Milwaukee School of Engineering and IWU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSOE students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 83%)

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.