IWU vs. BC

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Bridgewater 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.

Illinois Wesleyan University
Bridgewater College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • BC Bridgewater, VA
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • BC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • BC 1,448
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • BC #623
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • BC Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • BC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • BC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • BC $16,090
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • BC $16,090
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • BC $14,850
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • BC $11,316
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • BC $47,288
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • BC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • BC 3,938
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • BC 3,612
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • BC 91.7%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • BC 10.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • BC 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • BC
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • BC 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • BC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • BC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • BC
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • BC
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • BC 1020/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • BC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • BC May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • BC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • BC
    • Business (17%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • BC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • BC $43,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • BC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • BC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • BC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • BC 52%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • BC 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • BC Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • BC No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • BC 73%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • BC 1%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • BC 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • BC 5%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • BC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • BC 5%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • BC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • BC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • BC 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • BC 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than BC based on total student enrollment (1,582 students vs. 1,448 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Bridgewater College is in Bridgewater, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bridgewater College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Bridgewater College 13:1.

IWU vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or BC? 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 Bridgewater College than IWU ($11,316 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 10% lower than at Bridgewater College ($13,370 vs. $14,850).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 258.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than BC (about $41,614 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 258.6% higher at IWU than at Bridgewater College (about $41,614 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $16,090.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University as at Bridgewater College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater College students is 12.1% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($47,288 vs. $42,181).

IWU vs. BC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 40 points higher than at BC (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Bridgewater College 1020/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at BC (3.61).
  • BC has a higher acceptance rate (91.7%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 10.1% at BC.

IWU vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and BC? 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 Bridgewater College's (59%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $17,400 more per year than BC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater College and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Bridgewater College 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 BC students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

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.