IWU vs. Caldwell University

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

IWU Caldwell University
Location Bloomington, IL Caldwell, NJ
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,527 2,028
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #144 #505
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwu.edu caldwell.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU Caldwell University
Tuition (In State) $53,610 $35,950
Tuition (Out of State) $53,610 $35,950
Room & Board $12,418 $13,399
Avg Net Price $30,096 $20,612
Avg Grant Aid $36,614 $30,231
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

IWU Caldwell University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,408 6,649
Admitted 1,861 4,413
Acceptance Rate 42.2% 66.4%
Enrolled % 20.5% 10.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/30 20/26
SAT Range 1120/1330 1010/1320
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

Academics

IWU Caldwell University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (19%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)

Outcomes

IWU Caldwell University
Graduation Rate 82% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,500 $46,800
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

IWU Caldwell University
% Men 51% 34%
% Women 49% 66%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 71% 39%
% Black 4% 15%
% Hispanic 7% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 9% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 18%

Students

IWU Caldwell University
% In-State 77% 71%
% Out-of-State 14% 7%

Campus

IWU Caldwell University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Caldwell University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,028 students vs. 1,527 students)

IWU vs. Caldwell University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Caldwell University?

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 49.1% more expensive to attend than Caldwell University for in-state tuition ($53,610.00 vs. $35,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.1% higher at IWU than Caldwell University ($53,610.00 vs. $35,950.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Caldwell University than IWU ($20,612 vs. $30,096)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 7.9% lower than costs at Caldwell University ($12,418 vs. $13,399)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Caldwell University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 21.1% larger than aid received Caldwell University ($36,614 vs. $30,231)

IWU vs. Caldwell University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 280 points higher than at Caldwell University (969)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Caldwell University (21)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Caldwell University (3.3)
  • Caldwell University has a higher acceptance rate (66.4%) than IWU (42.2%)

IWU vs. Caldwell University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IWU or Caldwell 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 Caldwell University and IWU.

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Caldwell University (82% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $13,700 more per year than Caldwell University graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $46,800)
  • Caldwell University students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($25,750 vs. $27,000)
  • Caldwell University graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Caldwell University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 50%)

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