IWU vs. MLC

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

IWU MLC
Location Bloomington, IL New Ulm, MN
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 1,527 880
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #144
Religious Affiliation - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwu.edu mlc-wels.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU MLC
Tuition (In State) $53,610 $17,420
Tuition (Out of State) $53,610 $17,420
Room & Board $12,418 $6,880
Avg Net Price $30,096 $22,293
Avg Grant Aid $36,614 $6,301
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

IWU MLC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,408 215
Admitted 1,861 180
Acceptance Rate 42.2% 83.7%
Enrolled % 20.5% 78.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 20/27
SAT Range 1120/1330 1051/1316
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 MLC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (67%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)

Outcomes

IWU MLC
Graduation Rate 82% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,500 $38,000
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,125
Median Loan Payment $279 $239

Diversity

IWU MLC
% Men 51% 47%
% Women 49% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Extremely Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 93%
% Black 4% 1%
% Hispanic 7% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 9% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

IWU MLC
% In-State 77% 20%
% Out-of-State 14% 78%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is larger than than MLC based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 880 students)

IWU vs. MLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or MLC?

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 207.7% more expensive to attend than MLC for in-state tuition ($53,610.00 vs. $17,420.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 207.7% higher at IWU than Martin Luther College ($53,610.00 vs. $17,420.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Martin Luther College than IWU ($22,293 vs. $30,096)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 80.5% lower than costs at Illinois Wesleyan University ($6,880 vs. $12,418)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Martin Luther College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 481.1% larger than aid received Martin Luther College ($36,614 vs. $6,301)

IWU vs. MLC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 104 points higher than at MLC (1145)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at MLC (25)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at MLC (3.56)
  • MLC has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than IWU (42.2%)

IWU vs. MLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IWU or MLC? 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 MLC and IWU.

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Martin Luther College (82% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $22,500 more per year than MLC graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $38,000)
  • Martin Luther College students graduate with a $3,875 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($23,125 vs. $27,000)
  • MLC graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($239 vs. $279)
  • More MLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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