IWU vs. North Central College

Should I go to Illinois Wesleyan University or North Central College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IWU or North Central College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Illinois Wesleyan University vs. North Central College comparison
Illinois Wesleyan University North Central College College 3 College 4
Illinois Wesleyan University North Central College
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Overview

IWU North Central College
Location Bloomington, IL Naperville, IL
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,576 2,856
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #158 #349
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwu.edu northcentralcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU North Central College
Tuition (In State) $55,500 $44,114
Tuition (Out of State) $55,500 $44,114
Room & Board $12,930 $12,434
Avg Net Price $31,310 $24,190
Avg Grant Aid $36,999 $30,619
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

IWU North Central College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,128 5,241
Admitted 2,768 3,056
Acceptance Rate 45.2% 58.3%
Enrolled % 15.9% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.6
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 24/29 23/27
SAT Range 1140/1330 1065/1280
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 15, 2025

Academics

IWU North Central College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

IWU North Central College
Graduation Rate 82% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,500 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

IWU North Central College
% Men 0% 4%
% Women 0% 12%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 71%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 9% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

IWU North Central College
% In-State 77% 79%
% Out-of-State 14% 18%

Campus

IWU North Central College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Central College is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,856 students vs. 1,576 students)

IWU vs. North Central College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or North Central College?

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 25.8% more expensive to attend than North Central College for in-state tuition ($55,500.00 vs. $44,114.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.8% higher at IWU than North Central College ($55,500.00 vs. $44,114.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Central College than IWU ($24,190 vs. $31,310)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Central College are 4% lower than costs at Illinois Wesleyan University ($12,434 vs. $12,930)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as North Central College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 20.8% larger than aid received North Central College ($36,999 vs. $30,619)

IWU vs. North Central College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU or North Central College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between North Central College or IWU .

  • The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 124 points higher than at North Central College (1125)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at North Central College (25)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at North Central College (3.6)
  • North Central College has a higher acceptance rate (58.3%) than IWU (45.2%)

IWU vs. North Central College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IWU or North Central College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between North Central College and IWU.

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than North Central College (82% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $11,600 more per year than North Central College graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $48,900)
  • North Central College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • North Central College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former North Central College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/