About Illinois Wesleyan University

Founded in 1850, Illinois Wesleyan University. is a Private college. Located in Illinois, which is a city setting in Illinois, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 1,771 full time undergraduate students, and 0 full time graduate students.

The Illinois Wesleyan University Academic calendar runs on a Four-one-four plan basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 10:1. There are 148 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Illinois Wesleyan University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate58%
Application Deadline
Application Fee0
SAT Range1130-1400
ACT Range25-29

Admissions at IWU are considered Selective, with ,17% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 11 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

98% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 82% were in the top quarter, and 45% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Illinois Wesleyan University.

0%
“We”re apathetic”
27%
“We know about current events and vote”
64%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
9%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
18%
“Sometimes, but not often”
45%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
36%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
45%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
55%
“I feel extremely safe”
13%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
50%
“We bought the gear”
38%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
55%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
27%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
55%
“They keep regular office hours”
45%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
9%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
82%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
9%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
9%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
18%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
55%
“We only party on weekends”
18%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
18%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
36%
“There might be people who do”
45%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    48 Students rated on-campus housing 3.9 stars. 10 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    40 Students rated off-campus housing 3.4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    48 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 15 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    50 Students rated campus facilities 4.3 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    50 Students rated class size 4.5 stars. 72 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    50 Students rated school activities 3.9 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    50 Students rated local services 4.2 stars. 40 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    50 Students rated academics 3.8 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.

Illinois Wesleyan University REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of Illinois Wesleyan University?

13 Students rated Illinois Wesleyan University

Christian - 07/07/2024

As someone who was very skeptical about every college I've been to, the only college that felt like all the stuff the staff and students were saying was genuine and not too much that it felt forced, was Illinois Wesleyan. The campus is so beautiful, the staff is so welcoming, the students are nice, and for IWU being a smaller school, there are so many opportunities and freedom with classes and extracurriculars.

Bryant - 12/23/2019

Speaking as a student of the Music Theatre program, I love this university. The professors are accessible and genuinely invested in the students progress, but they are open about still learning new things every single day just like we are. It is an amazing program and you could not go wrong.

Kieran - 05/09/2019

I believe Illinois Wesleyan has one of the better alumni networks in the United States, is one of the best academically-driven universities, and most departments actively try to revitalize their academic and intuitive foundation so that their facilities, resources, and faculty qualifications and effectiveness are benefiting their students. The school does try to be more aware of current political, social, and economic topics in order to best shape school events and in order to facilitate thoughtful, educated conversations that allow a variety of people's points-of-view to be heard and drawn out. To merely acknowledge current issues (socially and politically) is one thing but to be able to establish an environment where people have the chance to express how they feel and be HEARD is drastically different. I believe Illinois Wesleyan is not impeccable when it comes to this but it does do a good job at experimenting with ways in how to execute said conversations. Yes, there is work yet to be done here at Illinois Wesleyan because no institution is perfect. That being said, some of such work includes quality of certain professors (waiting on giving tenure to ensure a professor is consistently beneficial to their students), the quality of food on campus, diversity and inclusion (both in student populous and in the training of its faculty, staff, and students so that they are more respectful and understanding), and the leeway the financial aid office may have when formulating financial aid packages for its students. Overall I feel as if I attend one of the more prestigious universities in the United States however, I would like to see the entire institution as well as my specific department (The School of Theatre Arts) grow rampantly towards a brighter future. In conclusion I would give it a 4/5 star rating (although it averages out to about a 3.88/5).

sarah - 10/11/2018

I absolutely LOVE IWU! It was the best four years of my life. I met lifelong friends, while receiving an amazing college education. The campus is beautiful and does’t feel like a small school at all. There are so many clubs and groups to join to find your people. I highly reccomend checking it out for college.

Illinois Wesleyan University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Illinois Wesleyan University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Illinois Wesleyan University is 58%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    So far the biggest thing I have taken from my school is just the fact that I need to open my mind and take in many other view points. Before I attended this school, I had my life planned out and it is because of this school and the classes at the school that I stopped and reconsidered my goals and my plans. I am finding myself at this school, which is something I think is important of a college career. My school has so many programs and staff members that have really helped me and many other students on campus. It is what I always dreamed college would be and should be like.

    Read all 45 answers

  3. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates are hard working, but they also know how to have fun.

    Read all 12 answers

  4. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    All kinds.

    Read all 12 answers

  5. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Illinois Wesleyan is a small and academically challenging university that makes you work hard but has plenty of opportunities for fun.

    Read all 11 answers

  6. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    I think the worst thing about my school was that I was told that class format would be different from other schools because of the small class size. There definitely was small class sizes, but most of my classes were the same format; lecture and occassional disscussion, and we rarely did anything out of the ordinary.

    Read all 11 answers

  7. What kind of person should attend this school?

    I think this school will fit any personality or belief type, but realistically it is an expensive school and students who do not have a well financial background will have difficulties and that could make there experience stressfull.

    Read all 10 answers

  8. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Its hard to say whether or not the school is "hard" academically or how it works socially because its very cliquey. Don't get me wrong, these are friendships for life, but if you choose an intensive program like nursing, pre-med, or theatre, be ready to see only those people for probably 3 years. IWU is also very public relations geared, and sometimes I think they over advertise themselves and occasionally the students feel "whored out" (for lack of better phrasing) during Open Houses.

    Read all 8 answers

  9. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    How challenging and time consuming my music educaiton program would really be.

    Read all 6 answers

  10. What's unique about your campus?

    It was online it was convience

    Read all 5 answers

  11. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Very friendly and helpful students, small classes, and hard, engaging professors. The Science department is probably the school's strongest, but the arts programs are still very competitive with other small liberal arts schools. Many of the professors also recieve reserach grants fairly often.

    Read all 4 answers

  12. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Our school is a community in itself. We have banded together in a recent time of need and tragedy. We are friends with eachother and support even those on campus we have never met before.

    Read all 4 answers

  13. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    My school is very eco-friendly. It is a small, tight-knit community where professors are often willing to invite students to their homes for class celebrations. The science program is very strong at this school and class sizes are small.

    Read all 4 answers

  14. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Studying and being in service fraternities.

    Read all 1 answers

Student Body

Students

54%

female

46%

male

1,771

Total Undergrad Enrollment

N/A

Total Grad Students

16%

Out-Of-State

76%

In-State

8%

International

Organizations

165

Student Organizations

6

Fraternities

5

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

79%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
4%
% Black or African-American
4%
% Hispanic/Latino
7%
% White or Caucasian
71%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

100% of students attending Illinois Wesleyan University receive some sort of financial aid. 19% were awarded federal grants. While 64% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$44,142

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$800

Books and Supplies

$10,178

Room and Board

55,120

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$18,303
$30 - $48K
$19,164
$48 - $75K
$24,434
$75 - $110K
$28,283
$110K & UP
$33,318

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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