IWU vs. Western Illinois University

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

IWU Western Illinois University
Location Bloomington, IL Macomb, IL
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 1,527 7,643
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #144 #579
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwu.edu wiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU Western Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $53,610 $9,515
Tuition (Out of State) $53,610 $9,515
Room & Board $12,418 $10,500
Avg Net Price $30,096 $11,213
Avg Grant Aid $36,614 $15,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

IWU Western Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,408 9,219
Admitted 1,861 6,914
Acceptance Rate 42.2% 75%
Enrolled % 20.5% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.45
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 18/24
SAT Range 1120/1330 880/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

IWU Western Illinois 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 (16%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

IWU Western Illinois University
Graduation Rate 82% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,500 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,704
Median Loan Payment $279 $255

Diversity

IWU Western Illinois University
% Men 51% 43%
% Women 49% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 62%
% Black 4% 19%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 9% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

IWU Western Illinois University
% In-State 77% 89%
% Out-of-State 14% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Illinois University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (7,643 students vs. 1,527 students)

IWU vs. Western Illinois University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Western Illinois University?

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 463.4% more expensive to attend than Western Illinois University for in-state tuition ($53,610.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 463.4% higher at IWU than Western Illinois University ($53,610.00 vs. $9,515.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Illinois University than IWU ($11,213 vs. $30,096)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Illinois University are 18.3% lower than costs at Illinois Wesleyan University ($10,500 vs. $12,418)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than Western Illinois University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 134.2% larger than aid received Western Illinois University ($36,614 vs. $15,632)

IWU vs. Western Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois Wesleyan University (1249) is 279 points higher than at Western Illinois University (970)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Western Illinois University (21)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Western Illinois University (3.45)
  • Western Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than IWU (42.2%)

IWU vs. Western Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IWU or Western Illinois 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 Western Illinois University and IWU.

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Western Illinois University (82% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn on average $14,500 more per year than Western Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($60,500 vs. $46,000)
  • Western Illinois University students graduate with a $2,296 lower median federal student loan debt than IWU graduates. ($24,704 vs. $27,000)
  • Western Illinois University graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than IWU graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 61%)

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