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Baylor ISU Trinity Austin College Bradley UT Austin Illinois Wooster Loyola DePauw University of Dallas Lawrence| Illinois Wesleyan University | Southwestern University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
IWU | SU | ||
| Location | Bloomington, IL | Georgetown, TX | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,576 | 1,457 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #158 | #189 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iwu.edu | southwestern.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
IWU | SU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,500 | $50,558 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,500 | $50,558 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,930 | $13,628 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $31,310 | $30,687 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,999 | $32,956 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
IWU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,128 | 6,585 | ||
| Admitted | 2,768 | 2,573 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.2% | 39.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 15.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1330 | 1170/1340 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
IWU | SU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
IWU | SU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,500 | $57,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,893 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $278 |
Diversity |
IWU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 0% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 22% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 9% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
IWU | SU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 9% | ||
Campus |
IWU | SU | ||
| 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
- Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (1,576 students vs. 1,457 students)
IWU vs. SU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, IWU or SU?
- Illinois Wesleyan University is 9.8% more expensive to attend than SU for in-state tuition ($55,500.00 vs. $50,558.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9.8% higher at IWU than Southwestern University ($55,500.00 vs. $50,558.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwestern University than IWU ($30,687 vs. $31,310)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 5.4% lower than costs at Southwestern University ($12,930 vs. $13,628)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Southwestern University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 12.3% larger than aid received Southwestern University ($36,999 vs. $32,956)
IWU vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, IWU or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or IWU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 81 points higher than at SU (1168)
- Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at SU (26)
- Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at SU (3.5)
- IWU has a higher acceptance rate (45.2%) than SU (39.1%)
IWU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, IWU or SU? 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 SU and IWU.
- The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Southwestern University (82% vs. 73%)
- Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $3,100 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $57,400)
- Southwestern University students graduate with a $107 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($26,893 vs. $27,000)
- SU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($278 vs. $279)
- More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU 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/