IWU vs. Wooster

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and The College of Wooster? 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
The College of Wooster

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Wooster Wooster, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Wooster Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Wooster 1,738
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Wooster Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Wooster #187
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Wooster -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Wooster Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Wooster

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Wooster $61,640
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Wooster $61,640
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Wooster $14,490
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Wooster $28,004
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Wooster $47,672
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Wooster 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Wooster 5,473
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Wooster 3,258
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Wooster 59.5%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Wooster 11.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Wooster 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Wooster 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Wooster 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Wooster A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Wooster Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Wooster Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Wooster 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Wooster 1220/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Wooster Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Wooster Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Wooster 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Wooster
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Wooster 75%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Wooster $51,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Wooster 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Wooster $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Wooster $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Wooster 47%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Wooster 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Wooster Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Wooster No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Wooster 69%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Wooster 5%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Wooster 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Wooster 5%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Wooster 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Wooster 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Wooster 0%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Wooster 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Wooster 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Wooster 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Wooster 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with The College of Wooster in Wooster, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The College of Wooster is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (1,738 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); The College of Wooster is in Wooster, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of Wooster is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; The College of Wooster 10:1.

IWU vs. Wooster Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Wooster? 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 The College of Wooster than IWU ($28,004 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 7.7% lower than at The College of Wooster ($13,370 vs. $14,490).
  • The College of Wooster is 6.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than IWU (about $3,936 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Wooster than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $3,936 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at The College of Wooster (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Wooster students is 13% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($47,672 vs. $42,181).

IWU vs. Wooster Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The College of Wooster (1340) is 110 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Wooster students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; The College of Wooster 1220/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; The College of Wooster 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Wooster - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wooster Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Wooster (3.76).
  • Wooster has a higher acceptance rate (59.5%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 11.4% at Wooster.

IWU vs. Wooster Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Wooster? 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 The College of Wooster's (75%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than Wooster graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of Wooster graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wooster graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wooster students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 76%)

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.