IWU vs. Kentucky

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and University of Kentucky? 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 Kentucky

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Kentucky #437
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Kentucky -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Kentucky

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Kentucky 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Kentucky 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Kentucky A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Kentucky
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Kentucky $235

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Kentucky 40%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Kentucky Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Kentucky No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Kentucky 76%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Kentucky 2%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Kentucky 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Kentucky 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Kentucky 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Kentucky 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Kentucky 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Kentucky 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Kentucky 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Kentucky is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (34,709 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 Kentucky is in Lexington, KY (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; University of Kentucky 18:1.

IWU vs. Kentucky Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Kentucky? 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 Kentucky than IWU ($21,958 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 16.5% lower than at University of Kentucky ($13,370 vs. $16,016).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 327.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kentucky (about $44,202 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $13,502.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69% higher at IWU than at University of Kentucky (about $23,564 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $34,140.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at University of Kentucky (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 227% larger than aid received by University of Kentucky students ($42,181 vs. $12,898).

IWU vs. Kentucky Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 50 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; University of Kentucky 1070/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; University of Kentucky 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Kentucky - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Kentucky (3.59).
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 22.2% at Kentucky.

IWU vs. Kentucky Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Kentucky? 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 Kentucky's (59%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Kentucky graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($22,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($235 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 62%)

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.