UIC vs. IWU

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

University of Illinois Chicago
Illinois Wesleyan University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: IWU (39.3% admitted vs 77.4%). Typical SAT 1230 vs 1240.
  • Cheaper after aid: UIC. Average net price is $10,852 vs $28,644 at IWU.
  • Graduation: UIC 54% vs IWU 82%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UIC $61,900 vs IWU $60,500 (median).
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Key differences

University of Illinois Chicago Illinois Wesleyan University
Acceptance rate
IWU more selective
UIC77.4%
IWU39.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UIC higher
UIC1130-1350
IWU1120-1340
Average net price
UIC $17,792 less
UIC$10,852
IWU$28,644
In-state tuition
UIC $43,366 less
UIC$14,338
IWU$57,704
Out-of-state tuition
UIC $27,820 less
UIC$29,884
IWU$57,704
Graduation rate
IWU +28 pts
UIC54%
IWU82%
Median earnings (10 years)
UIC +$1,400
UIC$61,900
IWU$60,500

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • IWU 9,558
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • IWU 3,757
  • Acceptance rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UIC 21.1%
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • IWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • IWU 27
  • Average high school GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • IWU 3.86
  • Typical high school grades
  • UIC B+
  • IWU A
  • Admissions standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • IWU Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • UIC
  • IWU High
  • SAT range
  • UIC 1130-1350
  • IWU 1120-1340
  • ACT range
  • UIC 25-31
  • IWU 25-30
  • Submit test scores
  • UIC Test optional
  • IWU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • IWU
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UIC $14,338
  • IWU $57,704
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UIC $29,884
  • IWU $57,704
  • Room & board
  • UIC $16,500
  • IWU $13,370
  • Average net price
  • UIC $10,852
  • IWU $28,644
  • Average grant aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • IWU $42,181
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UIC 74%
  • IWU 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • UIC 54%
  • IWU 82%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • IWU $60,500
  • Making student loan payments
  • UIC 68%
  • IWU 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • IWU $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UIC $193
  • IWU $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • IWU 12:1
  • Popular majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • IWU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • IWU 1,582
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UIC #215
  • IWU #157

Comparable Facts

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

University of Illinois Chicago is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (33,906 students vs. 1,582 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Chicago 17:1; Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 19% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($13,370 vs. $16,500).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 93.1% higher at IWU than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $27,820 more per year; $57,704 vs. $29,884).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at University of Illinois Chicago (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 151.8% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students ($42,181 vs. $16,755).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UIC than at IWU (28 vs. 27, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UIC and IWU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at IWU average a 3.86 high school GPA, 0.45 higher than at UIC (3.41).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 12.3% at IWU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $8,250 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($18,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($193 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 68%).

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

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