Wheaton College vs. MLC

Deciding between Wheaton College and Martin Luther College? 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.

Wheaton College
Martin Luther College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wheaton College Wheaton, IL
  • MLC New Ulm, MN
  • Setting
  • Wheaton College Large Suburban
  • MLC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Wheaton College 2,874
  • MLC 878
  • Type
  • Wheaton College Private 4 Year
  • MLC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wheaton College #146
  • MLC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wheaton College Undenominational
  • MLC Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
  • Status
  • Wheaton College Non-profit
  • MLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wheaton College
  • MLC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • MLC $18,120
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • MLC $18,120
  • Room & Board
  • Wheaton College $13,010
  • MLC $7,900
  • Average Net Price
  • Wheaton College $31,356
  • MLC $18,974
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wheaton College $27,987
  • MLC $10,276
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wheaton College 98%
  • MLC 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wheaton College 2,040
  • MLC 226
  • Admitted
  • Wheaton College 1,783
  • MLC 197
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wheaton College 87.4%
  • MLC 87.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Wheaton College 29.9%
  • MLC 88.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wheaton College 1370
  • MLC 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wheaton College 30
  • MLC 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wheaton College 3.75
  • MLC 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wheaton College A-
  • MLC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wheaton College Very High
  • MLC Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wheaton College
  • MLC
  • ACT Range
  • Wheaton College 28/32
  • MLC 22/27
  • SAT Range
  • Wheaton College 1260/1470
  • MLC 1078/1256
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wheaton College Test optional
  • MLC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027
  • MLC
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wheaton College 10:1
  • MLC 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wheaton College
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
  • MLC
    • Education (67%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wheaton College 87%
  • MLC 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wheaton College $54,300
  • MLC $38,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wheaton College 90%
  • MLC 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wheaton College $22,500
  • MLC $23,125
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wheaton College $232
  • MLC $239
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wheaton College 46%
  • MLC 44%
  • % Women
  • Wheaton College 54%
  • MLC 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wheaton College Low
  • MLC Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • Wheaton College No
  • MLC No
  • % White
  • Wheaton College 76%
  • MLC 93%
  • % Asian
  • Wheaton College 9%
  • MLC 1%
  • % Black
  • Wheaton College 3%
  • MLC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wheaton College 6%
  • MLC 1%
  • % Native American
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • MLC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • MLC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wheaton College 5%
  • MLC 1%
  • % International
  • Wheaton College 3%
  • MLC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • MLC 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wheaton College 25%
  • MLC 16%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wheaton College 68%
  • MLC 80%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Wheaton College Yes
  • MLC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Wheaton College No
  • MLC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Wheaton College Yes
  • MLC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Wheaton College No
  • MLC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Wheaton College No
  • MLC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL with Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wheaton College is larger than MLC based on total student enrollment (2,874 students vs. 878 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wheaton College is located in Wheaton, IL (Large Suburban setting); Martin Luther College is in New Ulm, MN (Remote Town setting).
  • Wheaton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Martin Luther College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wheaton College 10:1; Martin Luther College 10:1.

Wheaton College vs. MLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College or MLC? 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 Martin Luther College than Wheaton College ($18,974 vs. $31,356).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 39.3% lower than at Wheaton College ($7,900 vs. $13,010).
  • Wheaton College is 151.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MLC (about $27,426 more per year; $45,546.00 vs. $18,120.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 151.4% higher at Wheaton College than at Martin Luther College (about $27,426 more per year; $45,546.00 vs. $18,120.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Martin Luther College than at Wheaton College (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wheaton College students is 172.4% larger than aid received by Martin Luther College students ($27,987 vs. $10,276).

Wheaton College vs. MLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wheaton College or MLC? 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 MLC and Wheaton College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wheaton College (1370) is 200 points higher than at MLC (1170).
  • Incoming Wheaton College students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at MLC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 1260/1470; Martin Luther College 1078/1256.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 28/32; Martin Luther College 22/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wheaton College - Test optional; MLC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wheaton College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at MLC (3.56).
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (87.4%) than MLC (87.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.9% at Wheaton College vs. 88.3% at MLC.

Wheaton College vs. MLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wheaton College and MLC? 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).

  • Wheaton College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Martin Luther College's (73%).
  • Graduates from Wheaton College earn a median of about $16,300 more per year than MLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wheaton College graduates have a $625 lower median loan debt than MLC graduates ($22,500 vs. $23,125).
  • Among borrowers, Wheaton College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MLC graduates ($232 vs. $239).
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MLC students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 89%)

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.