Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 39.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 73/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Illinois Wesleyan University scores 73 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. At $57,704 sticker tuition with a net price of $28,199, IWU is a moderately priced private liberal arts university in Bloomington, Illinois. Average 6-year earnings of $43,300 and a 74.7% completion rate are the key metrics. The 7-year payback period is reasonable. The standout programs are Registered Nursing (46 graduates, $75,629 year-one, $84,527 year-four, ROI grade B) and Finance (23 graduates, $62,619 year-one, $101,609 year-four, ROI grade B). Drama/Theatre Arts (33 graduates) earns an F-grade ROI: $19,490 year-one and debt-to-earnings of 1.385. Psychology (25 graduates, ROI grade D) earns $34,650 year-one with debt-to-earnings of 0.779. Repayment rate of 88.5% at three years is strong, suggesting graduates are managing debt well. Median debt of $27,000 is high. IWU benefits from proximity to State Farm, Caterpillar, and other major Central Illinois employers, which create local pipelines for business and nursing graduates that are not fully reflected in the Scorecard earnings data.
Illinois Wesleyan University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $57,704/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $57,704/yr |
| Average net price | $28,199/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $112,796 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $70,871 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,582 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $57,704/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,199/year, or roughly $112,796 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $17,732/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,104/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,300) and comes to 0.62, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,732 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,057 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,152 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,396 |
| $110,001+ | $37,104 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $17,732 per year at IWU. Four years totals $70,928. For nursing or accounting students who complete, the payback math holds. For arts and humanities students, $70,928 all-in against $19,000-$34,000 year-one earnings creates a very long payback window. The 74.7% completion rate means roughly 1 in 4 entrants do not graduate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $23,152 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $27,396. Middle-income families paying $23,000-$27,000 annually face a four-year cost of $92,608-$109,584. For nursing and finance program students, this is justifiable. For theatre or psychology students, it requires a clear plan for post-graduation earnings and debt management.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $37,104 per year, totaling approximately $148,000 over four years. At a 7-year payback and $43,300 average earnings, full-pay is defensible for strong-earnings programs but creates real stress for arts and humanities tracks.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Illinois Wesleyan University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $84,527 | B |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $31,172 | F |
| Psychology | $57,839 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $101,609 | B |
| Biology | $62,541 | B |
| Marketing | $56,684 | - |
| Teacher Education | $44,923 | - |
| Accounting | $97,022 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $51,107 | - |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $43,737 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is IWU's strongest program: 46 graduates, $75,629 year-one, $84,527 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.357 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $27,000 at $75k year-one earnings is a 0.36 ratio - serviceable. Illinois nursing salaries are above the national median, supporting these outcomes. For students committed to nursing, IWU's small-campus experience and strong clinical placement record in Central Illinois justify the net price.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (23 graduates) earns $62,619 year-one and $101,609 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.415 (ROI grade B). The year-four jump to $101k suggests strong career advancement for IWU finance graduates, likely into corporate finance or investment roles at Illinois-based firms. Median debt of $26,000 at $62k year-one is a 0.42 ratio - manageable. Small graduate volume means noise in the figures.
Accounting
Accounting (12 graduates) earns $70,831 year-one and $97,022 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.381 (ROI grade B). Year-one earnings above $70k for a small Midwest liberal arts school are strong - reflecting IWU's accounting program placements into major firms and State Farm's Bloomington headquarters. The small sample size (12 graduates) limits confidence in the figures.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama/Theatre Arts (33 graduates) earns $19,490 year-one and $31,172 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.385 (ROI grade F). Median debt of $27,000 exceeds 138% of year-one earnings. IWU has a nationally recognized theatre program with alumni in professional performance, but the Scorecard earnings data reflect the reality of most performing arts careers: low initial earnings, high debt. Students entering this program should plan for financial hardship in the first several years post-graduation.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Illinois Wesleyan University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 39.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-30 |
| Enrollment | 1,582 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,828 |
IWU's admission rate is 39.3%. SAT 570-670 Math and 550-670 Reading, ACT 25-30 describe the middle half. Admission to specific programs (nursing) may have separate criteria. The credential carries regional recognition in Illinois but limited national reach outside select fields.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
IWU's ROI is 73.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Wesleyan University (this school) | 73 | $28,199 | $70,871 |
| Gettysburg College | 75 | $31,490 | $71,517 |
| Occidental College | 73 | $38,263 | $75,951 |
| Whitman College | 72 | $33,313 | $67,589 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
IWU admits 39.3% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 570-670 Math and 550-670 Reading; ACT 25-30. At 1,582 enrolled, it is a small private liberal arts university. The Pell grant rate of 26.3% reflects a mixed student population. IWU attracts students interested in nursing, business, music, and theatre - the arts programs are historically strong, though the Scorecard earnings data reflect the structural labor market disadvantage of performing arts degrees. Students planning professional careers in nursing, business, or accounting will find the strongest ROI. Arts and humanities students should plan carefully given the debt loads involved.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Illinois Wesleyan University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $28,199 a year after aid ($112,796 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $70,871 a decade out, the cost takes about 7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 74.7% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Illinois Wesleyan University: Common Questions
Is Illinois Wesleyan University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Illinois Wesleyan University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 73/100 on our ROI scale. At $28,199 a year after aid ($112,796 over four years) against $70,871 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Illinois Wesleyan University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $28,199 a year, or roughly $112,796 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Illinois Wesleyan University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $70,871 ten years after enrolling, roughly $29,071 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Illinois Wesleyan University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7 years for Illinois Wesleyan University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Illinois Wesleyan University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $43,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Illinois Wesleyan University?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.