IWU vs. KU

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and University of Kansas? 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
University of Kansas

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • KU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • KU 29,792
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • KU #317
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • KU -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • KU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • KU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • KU $12,102
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • KU $30,432
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • KU $11,358
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • KU $19,205
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • KU $11,541
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • KU 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • KU 22,363
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • KU 20,905
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • KU 93.5%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • KU 25.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • KU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • KU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • KU 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • KU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • KU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • KU
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • KU 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • KU 1070/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • KU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • KU Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • KU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • KU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • KU $54,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • KU 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • KU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • KU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • KU 46%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • KU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • KU Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • KU No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • KU 72%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • KU 4%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • KU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • KU 7%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • KU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • KU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • KU 5%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • KU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • KU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • KU 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • KU 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kansas is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (29,792 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); University of Kansas is in Lawrence, KS (Small City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; University of Kansas 18:1.

IWU vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or KU? 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 University of Kansas than IWU ($19,205 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 15% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($11,358 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 376.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than KU (about $45,602 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $12,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 89.6% higher at IWU than at University of Kansas (about $27,272 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $30,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at University of Kansas (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 265.5% larger than aid received by University of Kansas students ($42,181 vs. $11,541).

IWU vs. KU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 40 points higher than at KU (1190).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at KU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; University of Kansas 1070/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; University of Kansas 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; KU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at KU (3.66).
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 25.5% at KU.

IWU vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and KU? 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 University of Kansas's (61%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than KU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $54,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, KU graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($211 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 66%)

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.