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Illinois Wesleyan University

IWU

Bloomington, Illinois 61702-2900

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivateBusiness Focus

Strong graduate outcomes — known for business

Illinois Wesleyan University is a private institution in Bloomington with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 1242, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.6K undergraduates with a 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

83% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $70,871 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $29,550.

Established
1850
Motto
Scientia et Sapientia
Type
Private liberal arts college
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

45%Acceptance
1242SAT Avg
1,570Students
11:1Student:Faculty
83%Grad Rate
$70,871Earnings 10yr
$29,550Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Illinois Wesleyan University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate45.2%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1242

Reading & WritingMid: 625
570660
MathMid: 585
570670

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 27
2429

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

45.2%

Trend

SAT Avg

1242

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$55,704
Room & Board$12,930
Books & Supplies$800
Total Cost of Attendance$68,399
Average Net Price$29,550
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$21,011
$30–48K$24,494
$48–75K$24,284
$75–110K$28,757
$110K+$35,699

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

36.9%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$23,221

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

11

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

3

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (45)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

85%

Mixed
  • 85% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,570
Gender Split
48% / 52%
Women / Men
First Generation
18%
Pell Grant Recipients
23%

Race & Ethnicity

White 66%
Black 8%
Hispanic 10%
Asian 6%
Two+ 2%
Int'l 6%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate82.5%
Freshman Retention84.5%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$56,082
10 Years$70,871

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

National basketballBasketballIndoor trackCollege basketball

History & Fun Facts

  • History The institution was founded in 1850 as a private four-year college in Bloomington, Illinois.
  • Illinois Wesleyan's College of Liberal Arts was formally organized in 1906, and the College of Fine Arts – combining schools of art, music, and theatre arts – was established in 1948.
  • Illinois Wesleyan offered nursing study in conjunction with the Brokaw School of Nursing beginning in 1923, and in 1959 established the IWU School of Nursing with a four-year baccalaureate program.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ORD Chicago O'Hare117 mi
STL St Louis141 mi
IND Indianapolis152 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA936 mi · ~27h 2m drive
New York, NY785 mi · ~22h 41m drive
Hartford, CT853 mi · ~24h 39m drive
Providence, RI918 mi · ~26h 31m drive
Albany, NY800 mi · ~23h 7m drive
Syracuse, NY684 mi · ~19h 46m drive
Rochester, NY614 mi · ~17h 44m drive
Buffalo, NY547 mi · ~15h 48m drive
Philadelphia, PA730 mi · ~21h 5m drive
Pittsburgh, PA473 mi · ~13h 40m drive
Harrisburg, PA637 mi · ~18h 24m drive
Newark, NJ777 mi · ~22h 27m drive
Washington, DC644 mi · ~18h 36m drive
Baltimore, MD661 mi · ~19h 6m drive
Atlanta, GA530 mi · ~15h 19m drive
Charlotte, NC574 mi · ~16h 35m drive
Raleigh, NC649 mi · ~18h 45m drive
Miami, FL1136 mi · ~32h 49m drive
Orlando, FL932 mi · ~26h 55m drive
Tampa, FL943 mi · ~27h 15m drive
Nashville, TN322 mi · ~9h 18m drive
New Orleans, LA731 mi · ~21h 7m drive
Richmond, VA652 mi · ~18h 50m drive
Chicago, IL119 mi · ~3h 26m drive
Detroit, MI333 mi · ~9h 37m drive
Minneapolis, MN378 mi · ~10h 55m drive
St. Louis, MO144 mi · ~4h 10m drive
Kansas City, MO312 mi · ~9h 1m drive
Indianapolis, IN158 mi · ~4h 34m drive
Columbus, OH318 mi · ~9h 11m drive
Cleveland, OH387 mi · ~11h 11m drive
Milwaukee, WI185 mi · ~5h 21m drive
Dallas, TX686 mi · ~19h 49m drive
Houston, TX824 mi · ~23h 48m drive
Austin, TX860 mi · ~24h 51m drive
San Antonio, TX934 mi · ~26h 59m drive
Los Angeles, CA1660 mi · ~47h 57m drive
San Francisco, CA1791 mi · ~51h 44m drive
San Diego, CA1644 mi · ~47h 30m drive
Seattle, WA1712 mi · ~49h 27m drive
Portland, OR1724 mi · ~49h 48m drive
Denver, CO846 mi · ~24h 26m drive
Phoenix, AZ1359 mi · ~39h 16m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1198 mi · ~34h 37m drive
Honolulu, HI4185 mi · ~120h 54m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Chicago O'Hare (ORD)117 miles
Rental car
176 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
234 min$140-234
St Louis (STL)141 miles
Rental car
212 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
282 min$169-282

Deadline Calendar

Illinois Wesleyan University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Illinois Wesleyan University — v2 Preview — TourStack