IWU vs. OWU

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Ohio Wesleyan University? 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 Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • OWU 1,525
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • OWU #386
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • OWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • OWU $53,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • OWU $53,888
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • OWU $14,684
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • OWU $23,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • OWU $45,481
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • OWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • OWU 6,144
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • OWU 3,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • OWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • OWU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • OWU 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • OWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • OWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • OWU Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • OWU 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • OWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • OWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • OWU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • OWU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • OWU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • OWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • OWU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • OWU 44%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • OWU 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • OWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • OWU No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • OWU 70%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • OWU 3%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • OWU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • OWU 5%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • OWU 5%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • OWU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • OWU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • OWU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • OWU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (1,582 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Ohio Wesleyan University is in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Ohio Wesleyan University 12:1.

IWU vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or OWU? 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 Wesleyan University than IWU ($23,006 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 8.9% lower than at Ohio Wesleyan University ($13,370 vs. $14,684).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than OWU (about $3,816 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,888.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.1% higher at IWU than at Ohio Wesleyan University (about $3,816 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,888.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Ohio Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($45,481 vs. $42,181).

IWU vs. OWU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is the same as at OWU (1230).
  • Incoming OWU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; OWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • OWU has a higher acceptance rate (55.6%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 12.6% at OWU.

IWU vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and OWU? 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 Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $10,900 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio Wesleyan University and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Ohio Wesleyan University 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 OWU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 80%)

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.