IWU vs. Oberlin

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Oberlin 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
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Oberlin College is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

IWU vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin ($28,644 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 31.5% lower than at Oberlin College ($13,370 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 16.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than IWU (about $9,662 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at Oberlin than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $9,662 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Oberlin College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 17.9% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($42,181 vs. $35,780).

IWU vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 210 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (39.3%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

IWU vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Oberlin? 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).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Illinois Wesleyan University's (82%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $16,600 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Oberlin College graduates have a $421 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($26,579 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Oberlin graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($274 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 82%)

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.