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Illinois Wesleyan University

Private Nonprofit Bachelor's Good 70/100

Illinois Wesleyan University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Bloomington, Illinois

About Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Bloomington, Illinois. It enrolls 1,582 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: iwu.edu

Acceptance: 39.3%
Graduation: 73.8%
Net Price: $28,199
Median Earnings (10yr): $70,871
Enrollment: 1,582
Student : Faculty: 11:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar 4-1-4 Plan

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

70/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 76

Value 43

Affordability 26

Selectivity 82

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 39.3%, Illinois Wesleyan University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

39.3%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1120 – 1340

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

25 – 30

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Illinois Wesleyan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective ↓ 15.6 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Illinois Wesleyan University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,199 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$28,199

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

26%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

63%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $57,704
Room & Board (on-campus): $13,370
Room & Board (off-campus): $13,370
Books & Supplies: $800
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,700
Other Expenses (off-campus): $1,700
Total Cost of Attendance: $70,700

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$17,732
$30,001 – $48,000

$19,057
$48,001 – $75,000

$23,152
$75,001 – $110,000

$27,396
Over $110,000

$37,104

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500

10% percentile

$16,254

25% percentile

$27,000

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$35,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $23,250 ↓ $3,750

No Pell $22,666 ↓ $4,334

Female students $24,644 ↓ $2,356

Male students $21,500 ↓ $5,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,283, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

74% of full-time students who enrolled at Illinois Wesleyan University graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

74%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

82%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of $70,871 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$70,871

Earning > $25K

89%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$61,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$74,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $13,100, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 9.2 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Illinois Wesleyan University is home to 1,582 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

1,582

Part-Time

First-Generation

18%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 63.9% 1,011

Hispanic 11.7% 185

Black 8.3% 132

Asian 5.5% 87

International 5.2% 82

Other 3.0% 48

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Illinois Wesleyan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small City Bloomington, Illinois

Housing

Strongly residential 1,336 beds for 1,582 students

Adult Learners

1% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

4-1-4 Plan scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Illinois Wesleyan University offers a varied set of programs: 34 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

5 Programs

Business

Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

3 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Drama & Theatre $40K ($25K–$55K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Music $43K ($26K–$59K)

1 Program

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)

3 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)

2 Programs

English

English $49K ($34K–$64K)
Literature $46K ($26K–$64K)

2 Programs

Physical Sciences

Physics $77K ($52K–$103K)
Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Illinois Wesleyan University is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

11:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$323M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$78,677

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

108 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	33	31%	$96,783
Associate Professors	38	35%	$74,156
Assistant Professors	30	28%	$65,888
Instructors	7	6%	$72,670

Pros & Cons of Illinois Wesleyan University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Illinois Wesleyan University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
High published cost of attendance before aid
No graduate programs offered at this institution

Best for: Based on the data, Illinois Wesleyan University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Illinois Wesleyan University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Illinois Wesleyan University.

Is Illinois Wesleyan University hard to get into?

Illinois Wesleyan University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 39.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at Illinois Wesleyan University?

Illinois Wesleyan University has an acceptance rate of 39.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Illinois Wesleyan University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Illinois Wesleyan University scored between 1120 and 1340 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Illinois Wesleyan University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Illinois Wesleyan University scored between 25 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Illinois Wesleyan University cost?

The average net price after aid at Illinois Wesleyan University is $28,199 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Illinois Wesleyan University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $70,871 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,199 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Illinois Wesleyan University known for?

Illinois Wesleyan University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business, Drama & Theatre. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Illinois Wesleyan University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Illinois Wesleyan University are $70,871, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Illinois Wesleyan University accredited?

Yes. Illinois Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Illinois Wesleyan University?

Illinois Wesleyan University enrolls 1,582 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Illinois Wesleyan University?

Illinois Wesleyan University graduates 74% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Illinois Wesleyan University a public or private college?

Illinois Wesleyan University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Illinois Wesleyan University located?

Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, Illinois.

What programs does Illinois Wesleyan University offer?

Illinois Wesleyan University offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business, Drama & Theatre.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Illinois Wesleyan University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Illinois Wesleyan University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.