IWU vs. WSU

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Wayne State 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
Wayne State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • WSU Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • WSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • WSU 23,803
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • WSU #551
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • WSU -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • WSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • WSU $15,190
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • WSU $32,037
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • WSU $14,252
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • WSU $14,416
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • WSU $12,953
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • WSU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • WSU 16,981
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • WSU 13,781
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • WSU 81.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • WSU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • WSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • WSU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • WSU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • WSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • WSU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • WSU
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • WSU 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • WSU 1060/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • WSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • WSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • WSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • WSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • WSU 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • WSU $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • WSU 38%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • WSU $22,258
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • WSU $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • WSU 40%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • WSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • WSU High
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • WSU No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • WSU 57%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • WSU 8%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • WSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • WSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • WSU 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • WSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • WSU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • WSU 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • WSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Wayne State University in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wayne State University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (23,803 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Wayne State University is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Wayne State University 14:1.

IWU vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or WSU? 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 Wayne State University than IWU ($14,416 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 6.2% lower than at Wayne State University ($13,370 vs. $14,252).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 279.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSU (about $42,514 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $15,190.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80.1% higher at IWU than at Wayne State University (about $25,667 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $32,037.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Wayne State University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 225.6% larger than aid received by Wayne State University students ($42,181 vs. $12,953).

IWU vs. WSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 60 points higher than at WSU (1170).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at WSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Wayne State University 1060/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Wayne State University 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at WSU (3.42).
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 22.4% at WSU.

IWU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and WSU? 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 Wayne State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State University graduates have a $4,742 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($22,258 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($230 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 38%)

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.