IWU vs. St. Mary's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (1,601 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Saint Mary's College is in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting).
• Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Saint Mary's College 9:1.

IWU vs. St. Mary's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or St. Mary's College? 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 Saint Mary's College than IWU ($27,865 vs. $28,644).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 6.2% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($13,370 vs. $14,260).
• Illinois Wesleyan University is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Mary's College (about $4,474 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,230.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at IWU than at Saint Mary's College (about $4,474 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,230.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Saint Mary's College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Saint Mary's College students ($42,181 vs. $38,748).

IWU vs. St. Mary's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU or St. Mary's College? 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 St. Mary's College and IWU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is the same as at St. Mary's College (1230).
• Incoming St. Mary's College 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; Saint Mary's College 1130/1325.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Saint Mary's College 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; St. Mary's College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at St. Mary's College (3.83).
• St. Mary's College has a higher acceptance rate (76%) than IWU (39.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 20.1% at St. Mary's College.

IWU vs. St. Mary's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and St. Mary's College? 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 Saint Mary's College's (79%).
• Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than St. Mary's College graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Saint Mary's College 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 St. Mary's College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 85%)

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.