IWU vs. SU

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Southwestern University? 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
Southwestern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • SU Georgetown, TX
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • SU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • SU 1,440
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • SU #196
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • SU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • SU $53,813
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • SU $53,813
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • SU $15,072
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • SU $32,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • SU $35,162
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • SU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • SU 6,313
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • SU 2,718
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • SU 43.1%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • SU 13.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • SU 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • SU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • SU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • SU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • SU Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • SU 26/30
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • SU 1130/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • SU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • SU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • SU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • SU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • SU 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • SU $57,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • SU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • SU $26,893
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • SU $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • SU 45%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • SU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • SU 62%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • SU 4%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • SU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • SU 22%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • SU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • SU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • SU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • SU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (1,582 students vs. 1,440 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Southwestern University is in Georgetown, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Southwestern University 11:1.

IWU vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or SU? 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 Illinois Wesleyan University than SU ($28,644 vs. $32,228).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 11.3% lower than at Southwestern University ($13,370 vs. $15,072).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SU (about $3,891 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,813.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at IWU than at Southwestern University (about $3,891 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $53,813.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Southwestern University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 20% larger than aid received by Southwestern University students ($42,181 vs. $35,162).

IWU vs. SU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 10 points higher than at SU (1220).
  • Incoming SU 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; Southwestern University 1130/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Southwestern University 26/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; SU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at SU (3.5).
  • SU has a higher acceptance rate (43.1%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 13.8% at SU.

IWU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and SU? 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 Southwestern University's (73%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than SU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $57,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern University graduates have a $107 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($26,893 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SU graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.