IWU vs. Ohio State

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Ohio State University Main Campus? 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
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

IWU vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State University Main Campus than IWU ($19,783 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 9.3% lower than at Ohio State University Main Campus ($13,370 vs. $14,738).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 335.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $44,460 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.2% higher at IWU than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $17,682 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Ohio State University Main Campus (100% vs. 70%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 220.7% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($42,181 vs. $13,151).

IWU vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio State University Main Campus (1400) is 170 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Ohio State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

IWU vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Ohio State? 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 Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio State University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ohio State graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 63%)

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.