Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) vs Union College

Envision yourself pursuing higher education at either Illinois Wesleyan University or Union College, two esteemed institutions with distinct characteristics. Illinois Wesleyan, nestled in the heart of Bloomington, Illinois, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body from various backgrounds. Union College, situated in Schenectady, New York, offers a more selective admissions process, resulting in a smaller, close-knit community. While both universities excel in liberal arts education, Illinois Wesleyan is renowned for its strong programs in nursing, biology, and psychology, while Union College shines in engineering, economics, and computer science. Explore the detailed comparison table to uncover further differences in graduation rates, financial aid opportunities, and campus life, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Illinois Wesleyan University logo

Illinois Wesleyan University

Union College logo

Union College

Overview

Location Bloomington, Illinois Schenectady, New York
Campus setting City: Small City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system 4-1-4 Trimester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 85.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 45.2% 47.0%
Application fees $60
SAT range 1110 - 1310 1270 - 1450
ACT range 24 - 29 28 - 32
Students submitting SAT score 33.0% 37.0%
Students submitting ACT score 31.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 4,543 7,470
Total number of admissions given out 2,055 3,513
Admitted students who chose to enroll 432 565
Yield rate 21.0% 16.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $67,124 $77,385
Average net price $30,610 $39,101
Tuition $52,308 $61,308
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,584

Meal plan: $4,528
Room/dormitory: $8,370

Meal plan: $6,828
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $34,810
87.0%
Average amount $36,604
Students receiving federal student loan 68.0%
Average amount $5,692
48.0%
Average amount $5,087
Students taking out private loans 35.0%
Average amount $6,781
14.0%
Average amount $20,017

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,653
Men 49.4% Women 50.6%
2,096
Men 54.9% Women 45.1%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 3.4% 9.8%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,308 2,049
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

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Social Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 81.1% 84.5%
Dropout rate 18.7% 14.6%
Transferred out N/A 0.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,305
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $77,743
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,838
  • Year 2: $62,792
  • Year 3: $73,001
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,460
  • Year 2: $62,775
  • Year 3: $69,764
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,302
  • Year 2: $50,356
  • Year 3: $56,336
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,739
  • Year 3: $46,139
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,272
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $39,988
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $18,075
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $30,321
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: N/A
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $27,439
  • Year 3: N/A
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $36,674
  • Year 3: N/A
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,637
  • Year 2: $67,812
  • Year 3: $76,098
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,348
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $74,456
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,171
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $54,902
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,157
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $47,142
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,375
  • Year 2: $34,081
  • Year 3: $44,570
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,903
  • Year 2: $39,585
  • Year 3: $41,845
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: N/A
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: N/A
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $63,392
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,824
  • Year 3: N/A

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