Earlham College vs Wheaton College
Earlham College and Wheaton College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Earlham, located in Richmond, Indiana, prides itself on its Quaker heritage and commitment to social justice, while Wheaton, situated in Norton, Massachusetts, emphasizes its Christian faith and strong academic programs. With acceptance rates of 68% and 65%, respectively, both colleges maintain selective admissions. Earlham's student body is more diverse, with 44% students of color compared to Wheaton's 28%. Popular majors at Earlham include Peace and Conflict Studies, Environmental Studies, and Psychology, while Wheaton students commonly pursue majors in Business, Biology, and Psychology. While Earlham boasts a higher graduation rate of 79%, Wheaton's 84% retention rate indicates a strong commitment to student success. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional colleges and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal values.
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![]() Earlham College |
![]() Wheaton College |
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Overview |
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Location | Richmond, Indiana | Wheaton, Illinois |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 76.0% | 89.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | Undenominational |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 69.1% | 86.3% |
Application fees | $35 |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$30
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SAT range | 1100 - 1340 | 1250 - 1430 |
ACT range | 26 - 30 | 27 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | 32.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 20.0% | 25.0% |
Total number of applicants | 1,659 | 1,993 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,146 | 1,719 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 171 | 546 |
Yield rate | 14.9% | 31.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $60,465 | $54,700 |
Average net price | $25,360 | $28,319 |
Tuition | $48,523 | $40,570 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,261
Meal plan:
$5,593
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Room/dormitory:
$6,640
Meal plan:
$4,660
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $35,019 |
91.0%
Average amount $23,469 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
51.0%
Average amount $4,899 |
52.0%
Average amount $5,169 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $18,117 |
5.0%
Average amount $15,404 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
658
Men 45.4% Women 54.6% |
2,341
Men 44.9% Women 55.1% |
Graduate students |
78
Men 42.3% Women 57.7% |
706
Men 34.6% Women 65.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 18.1% | 5.9% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,023 | 2,153 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 7:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 72.6% | 87.6% |
Dropout rate | 27.4% | 3.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | 9.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Religious Education (Bachelor's Degrees)
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