IWU vs. SIUE

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville? 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
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • SIUE Edwardsville, IL
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • SIUE Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • SIUE 11,893
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • SIUE Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • SIUE #516
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • SIUE -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • SIUE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • SIUE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • SIUE $12,922
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • SIUE $12,922
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • SIUE $14,490
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • SIUE $17,115
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • SIUE $11,602
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • SIUE 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • SIUE 10,150
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • SIUE 9,896
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • SIUE 97.5%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • SIUE 15.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • SIUE 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • SIUE 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • SIUE 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • SIUE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • SIUE Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • SIUE
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • SIUE 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • SIUE 950/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • SIUE Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • SIUE May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • SIUE 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • SIUE
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • SIUE 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • SIUE $47,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • SIUE 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • SIUE $21,430
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • SIUE $221

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • SIUE 42%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • SIUE 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • SIUE Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • SIUE No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • SIUE 73%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • SIUE 2%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • SIUE 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • SIUE 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • SIUE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • SIUE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • SIUE 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • SIUE 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • SIUE 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • SIUE 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • SIUE 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (11,893 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is in Edwardsville, IL (Large Suburban setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 15:1.

IWU vs. SIUE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or SIUE? 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville than IWU ($17,115 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 7.7% lower than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ($13,370 vs. $14,490).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 346.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SIUE (about $44,782 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 346.6% higher at IWU than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (about $44,782 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 263.6% larger than aid received by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students ($42,181 vs. $11,602).

IWU vs. SIUE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 160 points higher than at SIUE (1070).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 23 at SIUE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 950/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; SIUE - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SIUE May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at SIUE (3.54).
  • SIUE has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 15.7% at SIUE.

IWU vs. SIUE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and SIUE? 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's (52%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than SIUE graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $47,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates have a $5,570 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($21,430 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SIUE graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($221 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SIUE students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 61%)

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.