IWU vs. Grinnell

Illinois Wesleyan University and Grinnell College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Illinois Wesleyan University
Grinnell College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Grinnell (14.5% admitted vs 39.3%). Typical SAT 1480 vs 1230.
  • Cheaper after aid: IWU. Average net price is $28,644 vs $34,363 at Grinnell.
  • Graduation: IWU 82% vs Grinnell 88%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: IWU $60,500 vs Grinnell $59,500 (median).
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Key differences

Illinois Wesleyan University Grinnell College
Acceptance rate
Grinnell more selective
IWU39.3%
Grinnell14.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Grinnell higher
IWU1120-1340
Grinnell1410-1540
Average net price
IWU $5,719 less
IWU$28,644
Grinnell$34,363
In-state tuition
IWU $10,402 less
IWU$57,704
Grinnell$68,106
Out-of-state tuition
IWU $10,402 less
IWU$57,704
Grinnell$68,106
Graduation rate
Grinnell +6 pts
IWU82%
Grinnell88%
Median earnings (10 years)
IWU +$1,000
IWU$60,500
Grinnell$59,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • Acceptance rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Grinnell 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Grinnell 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • IWU A
  • Grinnell A
  • Admissions standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • IWU High
  • Grinnell Very High
  • SAT range
  • IWU 1120-1340
  • Grinnell 1410-1540
  • ACT range
  • IWU 25-30
  • Grinnell 31-34
  • Submit test scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • IWU
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • Room & board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • Average net price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • Average grant aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • % receiving grant aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Grinnell 94%
  • Graduation rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Grinnell 88%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Grinnell 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • Median loan payment
  • IWU $279
  • Grinnell $136
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • Popular majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Grinnell #57

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Grinnell College is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (1,788 students vs. 1,582 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Grinnell College is in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Grinnell College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Grinnell College 9:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 20.6% lower than at Grinnell College ($13,370 vs. $16,842).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at Grinnell than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $10,402 more per year; $68,106 vs. $57,704).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Grinnell College (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 16.3% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($49,077 vs. $42,181).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Grinnell than at IWU (32 vs. 27, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both IWU and Grinnell.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Grinnell average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.03 higher than at IWU (3.86).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 30.9% at Grinnell.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $13,830 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($13,170 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($136 vs. $279).
  • More Grinnell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 87%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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