IWU vs. VWC

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Virginia Wesleyan 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
Virginia Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Wesleyan University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (1,853 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

IWU vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or VWC? 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 Virginia Wesleyan University than IWU ($21,267 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 10.8% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($11,930 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 53.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than VWC (about $20,204 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $37,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 53.9% higher at IWU than at Virginia Wesleyan University (about $20,204 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $37,500.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Virginia Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 41% larger than aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students ($42,181 vs. $29,923).

IWU vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 20 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming VWC 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; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at VWC (3.39).
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 11.9% at VWC.

IWU vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and VWC? 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 Virginia Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $18,800 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Wesleyan University and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Virginia Wesleyan 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 VWC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 57%)

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.