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Seattle U UW-Seattle PLU ISU Bradley George Fox University Illinois Wooster Loyola DePauw Whitworth University Lawrence| Illinois Wesleyan University | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
IWU | SPU | ||
| Location | Bloomington, IL | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,576 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #158 | #246 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iwu.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
IWU | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,500 | $37,965 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,500 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,930 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $31,310 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,999 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
IWU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,128 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 2,768 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.2% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1330 | 1050/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
IWU | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
IWU | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,500 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $264 |
Diversity |
IWU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 8% | ||
| % International | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
IWU | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 26% | ||
Campus |
IWU | SPU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 1,576 students)
IWU vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, IWU or SPU?
- Illinois Wesleyan University is 46.2% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($55,500.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- Out of state tuition is 46.2% higher at IWU than Seattle Pacific University ($55,500.00 vs. $37,965.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than IWU ($26,155 vs. $31,310)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 19.9% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($12,930 vs. $15,498)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 31.8% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($36,999 vs. $28,070)
IWU vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, IWU or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or IWU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 104 points higher than at SPU (1145)
- Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at SPU (26)
- Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than IWU (45.2%)
IWU vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, IWU or SPU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SPU and IWU.
- The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Seattle Pacific University (82% vs. 74%)
- Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $10,100 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $50,400)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
- SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
- More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SPU 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/