IWU vs. Valpo

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Valparaiso 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
Valparaiso University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Valpo Valparaiso, IN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Valpo Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Valpo 2,579
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Valpo Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Valpo #302
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Valpo Lutheran Church in America
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Valpo Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Valpo

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Valpo $48,450
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Valpo $48,450
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Valpo $13,618
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Valpo $21,766
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Valpo $37,548
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Valpo 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Valpo 6,199
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Valpo 5,544
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Valpo 89.4%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Valpo 9.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Valpo 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Valpo 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Valpo 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Valpo A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Valpo Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Valpo
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Valpo 23/31
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Valpo 1060/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Valpo Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Valpo

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Valpo 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Valpo
    • Business (13%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Education (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Valpo 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Valpo $54,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Valpo 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Valpo $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Valpo $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Valpo 42%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Valpo 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Valpo Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Valpo No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Valpo 72%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Valpo 2%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Valpo 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Valpo 8%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Valpo 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Valpo 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Valpo 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Valpo 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Valpo 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Valpo 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Valpo 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Valparaiso University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,579 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Valparaiso University is in Valparaiso, IN (Large Suburban setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Valparaiso University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Valparaiso University 10:1.

IWU vs. Valpo Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Valpo? 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 Valparaiso University than IWU ($21,766 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 1.8% lower than at Valparaiso University ($13,370 vs. $13,618).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 19.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Valpo (about $9,254 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $48,450.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.1% higher at IWU than at Valparaiso University (about $9,254 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $48,450.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Valparaiso University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 12.3% larger than aid received by Valparaiso University students ($42,181 vs. $37,548).

IWU vs. Valpo Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 60 points higher than at Valpo (1170).
  • Incoming IWU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at Valpo (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Valparaiso University 1060/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Valparaiso University 23/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Valpo - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Valpo (3.76).
  • Valpo has a higher acceptance rate (89.4%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 9.6% at Valpo.

IWU vs. Valpo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Valpo? 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 Valparaiso University's (71%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Valpo graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $54,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Valparaiso University and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Valparaiso University and IWU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Valpo students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.