IWU vs. Wheaton College

Should I go to Illinois Wesleyan University or Wheaton College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IWU or Wheaton College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Illinois Wesleyan University vs. Wheaton College comparison
Illinois Wesleyan University Wheaton College College 3 College 4
Illinois Wesleyan University Wheaton College
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Overview

IWU Wheaton College
Location Bloomington, IL Wheaton, IL
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,527 2,885
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #144 #166
Religious Affiliation - Undenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwu.edu wheaton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU Wheaton College
Tuition (In State) $53,610 $41,990
Tuition (Out of State) $53,610 $41,990
Room & Board $12,418 $11,690
Avg Net Price $30,096 $29,961
Avg Grant Aid $36,614 $24,272
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

IWU Wheaton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,408 1,893
Admitted 1,861 1,674
Acceptance Rate 42.2% 88.4%
Enrolled % 20.5% 30.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 28/33
SAT Range 1120/1330 1250/1430
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 Wheaton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)

Outcomes

IWU Wheaton College
Graduation Rate 82% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,500 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $232

Diversity

IWU Wheaton College
% Men 51% 43%
% Women 49% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 76%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 9% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

IWU Wheaton College
% In-State 77% 23%
% Out-of-State 14% 70%

Campus

IWU Wheaton College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wheaton College is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 1,527 students)

IWU vs. Wheaton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Wheaton College?

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 27.7% more expensive to attend than Wheaton College for in-state tuition ($53,610.00 vs. $41,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.7% higher at IWU than Wheaton College ($53,610.00 vs. $41,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wheaton College than IWU ($29,961 vs. $30,096)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 6.2% lower than costs at Illinois Wesleyan University ($11,690 vs. $12,418)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as Wheaton College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 50.8% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($36,614 vs. $24,272)

IWU vs. Wheaton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU or Wheaton College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wheaton College or IWU .

  • The average SAT score at Wheaton College (1314) is 65 points higher than at IWU (1249)
  • Incoming Wheaton College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at IWU (28)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Wheaton College (3.75)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (88.4%) than IWU (42.2%)

IWU vs. Wheaton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IWU or Wheaton College? 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 Wheaton College and IWU.

  • The graduation rate at Wheaton College is higher than Illinois Wesleyan University (87% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $6,200 more per year than Wheaton College graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $54,300)
  • Wheaton College students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Wheaton College graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 87%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/