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Bloomington, IL · Evanston, IL
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Northwestern University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $28,199/yr | $29,167/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $17,732/yr | $1,764/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $27,000 | $15,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $19,057/yr | $6,099/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $23,152/yr | $7,898/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $27,396/yr | $18,282/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $37,104/yr | $48,777/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $286/mo | $159/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,370/yr | $21,126/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,370/yr | $21,126/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $800/yr | $1,794/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,700/yr | $3,636/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $70,700/yr | $91,250/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $57,704/yr | $68,322/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $57,704/yr | $68,322/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 26% | 19% |
| Students taking federal loans | 63% | 17% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 39% | 7.7% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1120–1340 | 1510–1570 |
| SAT average | 1275 | 1533 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 25–30 | 33–35 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 24–30 · Math 25–29 | English 35–36 · Math 32–35 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 6,128 | 51,769 |
| Students accepted | 2,768 | 3,703 |
| Students who enrolled | 441 | 2,111 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 16% | 57% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 26% | 50% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 12% | 29% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Required | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 75% | 95% |
| Freshmen who come back | 80% | 98% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $70,871/yr | $89,363/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $50,689–$98,120 | $61,037–$139,122 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 82% | 97% |
| White students graduating | 75% | 96% |
| Black students graduating | 74% | 92% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 71% | 90% |
| Asian students graduating | 83% | 97% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $56,082/yr | $76,844/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 85% | 87% |
| Graduate on time | 66% | 83% |
| Pell students who graduate | 77% | 94% |
| First-gen students who finish | 73% | 83% |
| Low-income students who finish | 65% | 87% |
| Students who transfer out | 19% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $64,974/yr | $83,487/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 29% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 14% · Health Professions 11% | Social Sciences 16% · Communication & Journalism 14% · Engineering 14% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 29% of degrees | Social Sciences — 16% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 14% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 11% of degrees | Engineering — 14% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 6% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $75,629/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $224,402/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 22% | 38% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,582 | 9,201 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 6 : 1 |
| Graduate students | No data reported | 14,457 |
| Average professor pay | $8,828/mo | $20,322/mo |
| Full-time professors | 56% | 83% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $98,014 | $58,836 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (small) |
| Location | Bloomington, IL | Evanston, IL |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1850 | 1851 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.2% | 12% |
| Men | 50% | 46% |
| Women | 50% | 54% |
| White students | 64% | 31% |
| Black students | 8.3% | 8.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 12% | 16% |
| Asian students | 5.5% | 21% |
| Two or more races | 2.8% | 7.9% |
| Other / not reported | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 18% | 15% |
| Part-time students | 0.1% | 2.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.6% | 3% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $19,373/yr | $48,932/yr |
| Endowment | $255.9M | $11.0B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,336 | 4,488 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $8,050/yr | $12,219/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,880/yr | $8,115/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Quarter |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Navy |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 22 | 19 |
| Student athletes | 638 | 518 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $27.9M |
| Athletics budget | $5.1M | $131.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.1M | $131.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $100,658 | $2.5M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.