IWU vs. Purdue

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Purdue 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
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

IWU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus than IWU ($13,722 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 4.1% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($12,820 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 477.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $47,712 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 100.4% higher at IWU than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $28,910 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 273.5% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($42,181 vs. $11,294).

IWU vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 110 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Purdue 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; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

IWU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $700 more per year than IWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $60,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue 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 Purdue students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 78%)

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.