IWU vs. WUSTL

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Washington University in St Louis? 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
Washington University in St Louis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • WUSTL #21
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • WUSTL -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • WUSTL

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • WUSTL 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • WUSTL 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • WUSTL A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • WUSTL Very High
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • WUSTL $205

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • WUSTL 47%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • WUSTL High
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • WUSTL No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • WUSTL 55%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • WUSTL 19%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • WUSTL 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • WUSTL 7%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • WUSTL 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • WUSTL 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • WUSTL 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • WUSTL 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • WUSTL 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Washington University in St Louis is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (16,357 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Washington University in St Louis is in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Washington University in St Louis 7:1.

IWU vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or WUSTL ? 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 Washington University in St Louis than IWU ($22,408 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 38.8% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($13,370 vs. $21,854).
  • Washington University in St Louis is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than IWU (about $8,086 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at WUSTL than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $8,086 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $57,704.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Washington University in St Louis (100% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 56.7% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($66,080 vs. $42,181).

IWU vs. WUSTL Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 310 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming WUSTL students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Washington University in St Louis 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; WUSTL - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WUSTL Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at IWU (3.86).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (39.3%) than WUSTL (12.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 46.7% at WUSTL .

IWU vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and WUSTL ? 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).

  • Washington University in St Louis's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Illinois Wesleyan University's (82%).
  • Graduates from Washington University in St Louis earn a median of about $22,300 more per year than IWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,800 vs. $60,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington University in St Louis graduates have a $7,100 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($19,900 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WUSTL graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($205 vs. $279).
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 87%)

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.