Regional college
#7 Best colleges in IllinoisIllinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $28,199 a year
Median debt at graduation: $27,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#64 of 950
- Best small colleges in America#66 of 906
- Best colleges for nursing in America#79 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#84 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#69 of 834
- Best colleges for business in America#145 of 1,563
Show 19 more
- Best colleges for education in America#131 of 1,318
- Best colleges for finance in America#75 of 744
- Best colleges in America#222 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#175 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#193 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#178 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#169 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#175 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#169 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#180 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#179 of 1,162
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#282 of 1,829
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#174 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#168 of 1,063
- Best colleges for computer science in America#126 of 750
- Most selective colleges in America#122 of 683
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in America#77 of 430
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#144 of 690
- Best colleges for economics in America#172 of 788
In Illinois
- Best colleges for accounting in Illinois#2 of 41
- Best colleges for marketing in Illinois#2 of 35
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Illinois#2 of 34
- Best colleges for nursing in Illinois#2 of 33
- Best small colleges in Illinois#2 of 25
- Best colleges for education in Illinois#5 of 49
Show 20 more
- Best colleges for finance in Illinois#3 of 29
- Best colleges for business in Illinois#6 of 52
- Best colleges for English in Illinois#6 of 49
- Best colleges in Illinois#7 of 57
- Best test-optional colleges in Illinois#7 of 56
- Best colleges for art and design in Illinois#6 of 47
- Best colleges for mathematics in Illinois#6 of 47
- Best colleges for music in Illinois#6 of 46
- Best colleges for history in Illinois#6 of 45
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Illinois#8 of 57
- Most selective colleges in Illinois#3 of 21
- Best colleges for psychology in Illinois#7 of 49
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Illinois#7 of 48
- Best colleges for chemistry in Illinois#7 of 46
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Illinois#7 of 44
- Best colleges for computer science in Illinois#7 of 39
- Best colleges for economics in Illinois#7 of 34
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Illinois#5 of 21
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Illinois#5 of 21
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Illinois#5 of 21
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.75%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.80%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,275 · ACT 27.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.12 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$19,373
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $70,700 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 1,576 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 50% · Women 50% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 18% |
| Total students | 1,576 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $28,199 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $70,700 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 75% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 75% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 73% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 84% |
| First-year retention | 80% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $70,871 |
| Admission rate | 39% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | No application fee |
| Financial aid priority deadline College website, 2026-27 | March 1 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $999 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 26% |
| Average SAT | 1275 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 550–670 |
| SAT math | 570–670 |
| ACT composite | 25–30 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Finance | |
| Accounting | |
| Nursing | |
| Business administration | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology | |
| English | |
| Theatre |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Anthropology, Biochemistry, Business (general), Chemistry, Classical and Ancient Studies, Computer science, Economics, Education (general), Entrepreneurship, Ethnic and gender studies, Fine arts, General studies, German, Global studies, History, Interdisciplinary studies, International business, International relations, Kinesiology and exercise science, Liberal arts, Literature, Marketing, Mathematics, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Physics, Political science, Religious studies, Romance languages, Secondary education, Sociology, Teacher education, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Visual and performing arts | |
| Health professions | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 0% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 1% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,370 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III · College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin |
| ROTC | Army |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 12 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 12%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 56%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $166,467IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 85% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (BMI)About 4 miles away · about 15 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)About 110 miles away |
| Town population | 78,907Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | ChicagoAbout 115 miles away · about 2 hours 35 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 25°F in January · 75°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Normal 4 NE, IL, about 5 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 1.90 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 1.26 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Illinois Wesleyan University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 13% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Illinois Wesleyan University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $28,199 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Illinois Wesleyan University?
- Illinois Wesleyan University admitted 39% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Illinois Wesleyan University’s graduates do?
- 75% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $70,871; the median federal debt at graduation is $27,000.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 145646
- Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate college (diverse fields)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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