IWU vs. Northwestern

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

Illinois Wesleyan University
Northwestern University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Northwestern (7.7% admitted vs 39.3%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1230.
  • Cheaper after aid: Northwestern. Average net price is $26,830 vs $28,644 at IWU.
  • Graduation: IWU 82% vs Northwestern 94%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: IWU $60,500 vs Northwestern $89,800 (median).
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Key differences

Illinois Wesleyan University Northwestern University
Acceptance rate
Northwestern more selective
IWU39.3%
Northwestern7.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Northwestern higher
IWU1120-1340
Northwestern1510-1570
Average net price
Northwestern $1,814 less
IWU$28,644
Northwestern$26,830
In-state tuition
IWU $10,618 less
IWU$57,704
Northwestern$68,322
Out-of-state tuition
IWU $10,618 less
IWU$57,704
Northwestern$68,322
Graduation rate
Northwestern +12 pts
IWU82%
Northwestern94%
Median earnings (10 years)
Northwestern +$29,300
IWU$60,500
Northwestern$89,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Northwestern 49,474
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Northwestern 3,806
  • Acceptance rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Northwestern 7.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Northwestern 55.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Northwestern 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Northwestern 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Northwestern 3.92
  • Typical high school grades
  • IWU A
  • Northwestern A
  • Admissions standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Northwestern Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • IWU High
  • Northwestern Extreme
  • SAT range
  • IWU 1120-1340
  • Northwestern 1510-1570
  • ACT range
  • IWU 25-30
  • Northwestern 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Northwestern Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • IWU
  • Northwestern Jan 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Room & board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Northwestern $21,126
  • Average net price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Northwestern $26,830
  • Average grant aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Northwestern $64,429
  • % receiving grant aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Northwestern 53%
  • Graduation rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Northwestern 94%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Northwestern $89,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Northwestern 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Northwestern $19,378
  • Median loan payment
  • IWU $279
  • Northwestern $200
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Northwestern 6:1
  • Popular majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Northwestern
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Northwestern Evanston, IL
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Northwestern Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Northwestern 23,856
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Northwestern Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Northwestern #15

Comparable Facts

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

Northwestern University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (23,856 students vs. 1,582 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Northwestern University is in Evanston, IL (Small City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Northwestern University 6:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 36.7% lower than at Northwestern University ($13,370 vs. $21,126).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.4% higher at Northwestern than at Illinois Wesleyan University (about $10,618 more per year; $68,322 vs. $57,704).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Northwestern University (100% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 52.7% larger than aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students ($64,429 vs. $42,181).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 7 points higher at Northwestern than at IWU (34 vs. 27, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both IWU and Northwestern.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northwestern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Northwestern average a 3.92 high school GPA, 0.06 higher than at IWU (3.86).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 55.3% at Northwestern.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern University graduates have a $7,622 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($19,378 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Northwestern graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($200 vs. $279).
  • More Northwestern 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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