Wheaton College vs. Hope College

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

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Calvin University Michigan State GVSU Pepperdine Butler Taylor University St Olaf Michigan Cedarville University DePauw Westmont College IWU
Wheaton College vs. Hope College comparison
Wheaton College Hope College College 3 College 4
Wheaton College Hope College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Wheaton College Hope College
Location Wheaton, IL Holland, MI
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 2,799 3,368
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #156 #271
Religious Affiliation Undenominational Reformed Church in America - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wheaton.edu hope.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wheaton College Hope College
Tuition (In State) $43,670 $39,990
Tuition (Out of State) $43,670 $39,990
Room & Board $12,390 $12,180
Avg Net Price $31,346 $28,643
Avg Grant Aid $25,196 $23,633
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 97%

Admission

Wheaton College Hope College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,866 5,206
Admitted 1,679 3,949
Acceptance Rate 90% 75.9%
Enrolled % 32.9% 21.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.83
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 27/32 26/31
SAT Range 1260/1440 1090/1310
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

Wheaton College Hope College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Physical Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Wheaton College Hope College
Graduation Rate 87% 79%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $279

Diversity

Wheaton College Hope College
% Men 10% 1%
% Women 14% 1%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 84%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Wheaton College Hope College
% In-State 21% 68%
% Out-of-State 54% 32%

Campus

Wheaton College Hope 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

  • Hope College is larger than than Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (3,368 students vs. 2,799 students)

Wheaton College vs. Hope College Cost Comparison

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

  • Wheaton College is 9.2% more expensive to attend than Hope College for in-state tuition ($43,670.00 vs. $39,990.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.2% higher at Wheaton College than Hope College ($43,670.00 vs. $39,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hope College than Wheaton College ($28,643 vs. $31,346)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hope College are 1.7% lower than costs at Wheaton College ($12,180 vs. $12,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wheaton College than Hope College (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wheaton College students is 6.6% larger than aid received Hope College ($25,196 vs. $23,633)

Wheaton College vs. Hope College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wheaton College (1314) is 109 points higher than at Hope College (1205)
  • Incoming Wheaton College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Hope College (27)
  • Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Wheaton College (3.75)
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (90%) than Hope College (75.9%)

Wheaton College vs. Hope College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wheaton College or Hope 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 Hope College and Wheaton College.

  • The graduation rate at Wheaton College is higher than Hope College (87% vs. 79%)
  • Graduates from Wheaton College earn on average $6,800 more per year than Hope College graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $47,500)
  • Wheaton College students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Hope College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Wheaton College graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Hope College graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hope College students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 82%)

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