Lawrence University vs Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU)
Lawrence University and Illinois Wesleyan University, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Lawrence, nestled in Appleton, Wisconsin, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 54%, while Illinois Wesleyan, located in Bloomington, Illinois, maintains a slightly higher acceptance rate of 65%. In terms of student body demographics, Lawrence's student population is more diverse, with international students comprising 12% of the student body compared to Illinois Wesleyan's 4%. Both universities offer a wide range of academic programs, with popular majors at Lawrence including Economics, Psychology, and Biology, while Illinois Wesleyan's popular majors include Business Administration, Psychology, and Biology. With graduation rates of 82% and 79% respectively, both institutions ensure that their students are well-prepared for their post-graduate endeavors. To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, allowing you to assess which university
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![]() Illinois Wesleyan University |
![]() Lawrence University |
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Overview |
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Location | Bloomington, Illinois | Appleton, Wisconsin |
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% | 89.0% |
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Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 45.2% | 75.0% |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | 1110 - 1310 | 1230 - 1460 |
ACT range | 24 - 29 | 27 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 33.0% | 24.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 37.0% |
Total number of applicants | 4,543 | 2,907 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,055 | 2,179 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 432 | 402 |
Yield rate | 21.0% | 18.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $67,124 | $65,445 |
Average net price | $30,610 | $24,804 |
Tuition | $52,308 | $52,101 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,584
Meal plan:
$4,528
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Room/dormitory:
$5,814
Meal plan:
$5,370
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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 $34,810 |
100.0%
Average amount $39,841 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
68.0%
Average amount $5,692 |
57.0%
Average amount $5,053 |
Students taking out private loans |
35.0%
Average amount $6,781 |
6.0%
Average amount $16,464 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
1,653
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
1,483
Men 45.8% Women 54.2% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 73.1% |
International students | 3.4% | 12.3% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 1,308 | 1,460 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota Texas California |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 81.1% | 80.5% |
Dropout rate | 18.7% | 19.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
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