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Michigan State UM-Dearborn Oakland Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Eastern Michigan University CMU Michigan GVSU WMU ISU Cleveland State Michigan Tech| Illinois Wesleyan University | Wayne State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
IWU | WSU | ||
| Location | Bloomington, IL | Detroit, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,527 | 23,630 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #144 | #582 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iwu.edu | wayne.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
IWU | WSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,610 | $12,933 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,610 | $29,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,418 | $11,321 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,096 | $15,347 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,614 | $10,605 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 96% |
Admission |
IWU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,408 | 14,002 | ||
| Admitted | 1,861 | 10,547 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 42.2% | 75.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.5% | 24.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1120/1330 | 1040/1260 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
IWU | WSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
IWU | WSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,500 | $51,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 87% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,258 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $230 |
Diversity |
IWU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 51% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 49% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 9% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
IWU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 14% | 3% | ||
Campus |
IWU | WSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Wayne State University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (23,630 students vs. 1,527 students)
IWU vs. WSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, IWU or WSU?
- Illinois Wesleyan University is 314.5% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($53,610.00 vs. $12,933.00)
- Out of state tuition is 81% higher at IWU than Wayne State University ($53,610.00 vs. $29,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than IWU ($15,347 vs. $30,096)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 9.7% lower than costs at Illinois Wesleyan University ($11,321 vs. $12,418)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Wayne State University (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 245.3% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($36,614 vs. $10,605)
IWU vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, IWU or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or IWU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 179 points higher than at WSU (1070)
- Incoming IWU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at WSU (23)
- 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 (75.3%) than IWU (42.2%)
IWU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, IWU or WSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WSU and IWU.
- The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Wayne State University (82% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $9,500 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $51,000)
- Wayne State University students graduate with a $4,742 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($22,258 vs. $27,000)
- WSU graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans 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/