Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Willamette University

Should I go to Iowa Wesleyan College or Willamette University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Iowa Wesleyan College or Willamette University 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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Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Willamette University comparison
Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University College 3 College 4
Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
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Overview

Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
Location Mount Pleasant, IA Salem, OR
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 871 1,909
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwc.edu willamette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
Tuition (In State) $33,550 $45,000
Tuition (Out of State) $33,550 $45,000
Room & Board $11,340 $14,340
Avg Net Price $20,074 $32,957
Avg Grant Aid $26,670 $27,700
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 100%

Admission

Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,975 3,994
Admitted 2,404 3,219
Acceptance Rate 80.8% 80.6%
Enrolled % 8% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.02 3.97
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 830/1010
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 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
Graduation Rate 25% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,900 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $268

Diversity

Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
% Men 56% 43%
% Women 44% 57%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 52% 62%
% Black 9% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 10%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 24% 2%

Students

Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
% In-State 25% 25%
% Out-of-State 60% 73%

Campus

Iowa Wesleyan College Willamette University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Willamette University is larger than than Iowa Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (1,909 students vs. 871 students)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Willamette University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Wesleyan College or Willamette University?

  • Willamette University is 34.1% more expensive to attend than Iowa Wesleyan College for in-state tuition ($45,000.00 vs. $33,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.1% higher at Willamette University than Iowa Wesleyan College ($45,000.00 vs. $33,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa Wesleyan College than Willamette University ($20,074 vs. $32,957)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa Wesleyan College are 26.5% lower than costs at Willamette University ($11,340 vs. $14,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Willamette University than Iowa Wesleyan College (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Willamette University students is 3.9% larger than aid received Iowa Wesleyan College ($27,700 vs. $26,670)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Willamette University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Willamette University (1228) is 279 points higher than at Iowa Wesleyan College (949)
  • Incoming Willamette University students have a 8 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Willamette University students have a 0.95 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (3.02)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Willamette University (80.6%)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Willamette University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa Wesleyan College or Willamette University? 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 Willamette University and Iowa Wesleyan College.

  • The graduation rate at Willamette University is higher than Iowa Wesleyan College (77% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Willamette University earn on average $17,400 more per year than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $36,900)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Willamette University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Willamette University graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More Willamette University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Wesleyan College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 55%)

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