Knox College vs. Wheaton College

Should I go to Knox College or Wheaton College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Knox College 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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Knox College vs. Wheaton College comparison
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Knox College Wheaton College
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Overview

Knox College Wheaton College
Location Galesburg, IL Wheaton, IL
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,001 2,799
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #306 #156
Religious Affiliation - Undenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website knox.edu wheaton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Knox College Wheaton College
Tuition (In State) $54,768 $43,670
Tuition (Out of State) $54,768 $43,670
Room & Board $10,407 $12,390
Avg Net Price $25,524 $31,346
Avg Grant Aid $40,548 $25,196
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Knox College Wheaton College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,136 1,866
Admitted 2,942 1,679
Acceptance Rate 71.1% 90%
Enrolled % 8.5% 32.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.75
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/30 27/32
SAT Range 1120/1385 1260/1440
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 Jan 15, 2026 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Knox College Wheaton College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)

Outcomes

Knox College Wheaton College
Graduation Rate 78% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,100 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $232

Diversity

Knox College Wheaton College
% Men 0% 10%
% Women 0% 14%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 52% 76%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 14% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 12% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

Knox College Wheaton College
% In-State 43% 21%
% Out-of-State 36% 54%

Campus

Knox College 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 Knox College based on total student enrollment (2,799 students vs. 1,001 students)

Knox College vs. Wheaton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Knox College or Wheaton College?

  • Knox College is 25.4% more expensive to attend than Wheaton College for in-state tuition ($54,768.00 vs. $43,670.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.4% higher at Knox College than Wheaton College ($54,768.00 vs. $43,670.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Knox College than Wheaton College ($25,524 vs. $31,346)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Knox College are 19.1% lower than costs at Wheaton College ($10,407 vs. $12,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Knox College than Wheaton College (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Knox College students is 60.9% larger than aid received Wheaton College ($40,548 vs. $25,196)

Knox College vs. Wheaton College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Knox College (71.1%)

Knox College vs. Wheaton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Knox College 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 Knox College.

  • The graduation rate at Wheaton College is higher than Knox College (87% vs. 78%)
  • Graduates from Wheaton College earn on average $11,200 more per year than Knox College graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $43,100)
  • Wheaton College students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Knox College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Wheaton College graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Knox College graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Knox College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 74%)

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