IWU vs. Kenyon

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

Illinois Wesleyan University
Kenyon College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Kenyon (31% admitted vs 39.3%). Typical SAT 1430 vs 1230.
  • Cheaper after aid: IWU. Average net price is $28,644 vs $46,859 at Kenyon.
  • Graduation: IWU 82% vs Kenyon 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: IWU $60,500 vs Kenyon $52,900 (median).
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Key differences

Illinois Wesleyan University Kenyon College
Acceptance rate
Kenyon more selective
IWU39.3%
Kenyon31%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Kenyon higher
IWU1120-1340
Kenyon1358-1503
Average net price
IWU $18,215 less
IWU$28,644
Kenyon$46,859
In-state tuition
IWU $13,816 less
IWU$57,704
Kenyon$71,520
Out-of-state tuition
IWU $13,816 less
IWU$57,704
Kenyon$71,520
Graduation rate
Kenyon +5 pts
IWU82%
Kenyon87%
Median earnings (10 years)
IWU +$7,600
IWU$60,500
Kenyon$52,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • Acceptance rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Kenyon 31%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Kenyon 1430
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Kenyon 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • Typical high school grades
  • IWU A
  • Kenyon A-
  • Admissions standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • IWU High
  • Kenyon High
  • SAT range
  • IWU 1120-1340
  • Kenyon 1358-1503
  • ACT range
  • IWU 25-30
  • Kenyon 31-33
  • Submit test scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • IWU
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • Room & board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • Average net price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • Average grant aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • % receiving grant aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Kenyon 82%
  • Graduation rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Kenyon 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • Median loan payment
  • IWU $279
  • Kenyon $196
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • Popular majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Kenyon #62

Comparable Facts

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

Kenyon College is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (2,249 students vs. 1,582 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Kenyon College is in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Kenyon College 9:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 14.5% lower than at Kenyon College ($13,370 vs. $15,640).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.9% higher at Kenyon than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $13,816 more per year; $71,520 vs. $57,704).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Kenyon College (100% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 3.6% larger than aid received by Kenyon College students ($42,181 vs. $40,731).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Kenyon than at IWU (32 vs. 27, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both IWU and Kenyon.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kenyon Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at IWU average a 3.86 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at Kenyon (3.84).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 18.3% at Kenyon.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More Kenyon 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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