IWU vs. Xavier

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Xavier 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
Xavier University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Xavier Cincinnati, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Xavier Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Xavier 5,501
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Xavier Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Xavier #269
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Xavier Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Xavier Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Xavier

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Xavier $50,640
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Xavier $50,640
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Xavier $13,920
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Xavier $33,623
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Xavier $32,088
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Xavier 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Xavier 14,631
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Xavier 12,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Xavier 86.4%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Xavier 7.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Xavier 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Xavier 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Xavier 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Xavier A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Xavier Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Xavier
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Xavier 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Xavier 1103/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Xavier Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Xavier

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Xavier 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Xavier
    • Business (28%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Xavier 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Xavier $54,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Xavier 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Xavier $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Xavier $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Xavier 42%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Xavier 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Xavier Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Xavier No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Xavier 72%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Xavier 3%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Xavier 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Xavier 5%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Xavier 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Xavier 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Xavier 4%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Xavier 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Xavier 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Xavier 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Xavier 53%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Xavier University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (5,501 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Xavier University is in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Xavier University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Xavier University 10:1.

IWU vs. Xavier Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Xavier? 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 Illinois Wesleyan University than Xavier ($28,644 vs. $33,623).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 4% lower than at Xavier University ($13,370 vs. $13,920).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 13.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Xavier (about $7,064 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $50,640.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.9% higher at IWU than at Xavier University (about $7,064 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $50,640.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Xavier University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Xavier University students ($42,181 vs. $32,088).

IWU vs. Xavier Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 20 points higher than at Xavier (1210).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Xavier).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Xavier University 1103/1310.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Xavier University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Xavier - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Xavier (3.68).
  • Xavier has a higher acceptance rate (86.4%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 7.3% at Xavier.

IWU vs. Xavier Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Xavier? 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 Xavier University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Xavier graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $54,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Xavier University and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Xavier 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 Xavier students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 72%)

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.