Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University #640 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $69,265, placing Illinois Wesleyan University in the 72.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University #453 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Illinois Wesleyan University's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for graduates, anchored by business-focused programs that deliver above-average earnings. The institution's return-on-investment performance places it among the top private four-year colleges nationally.
Azimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University #640 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Bloomington, Illinois, Illinois Wesleyan University enrolls roughly 1,582 undergraduates. Retention is 80.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 74.7%, reflecting solid completion rates for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Where Illinois Wesleyan University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University #453 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $69,265, reflecting solid early-career outcomes anchored in the institution's strength in Business and related professional fields. The earnings advantage places Illinois Wesleyan University well above the median for comparable private master's institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Illinois Wesleyan University enrolls 26.3% Pell-eligible students and 17.7% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a more selective admissions posture typical of residential private colleges. Azimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University in the 47.3 percentile for access and the 13.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's cost of attendance and net-price structure reflect private tuition levels, though need-based aid reshapes the actual cost for admitted families who qualify. Mobility outcomes sit in the 81.4 percentile, indicating that low-income and first-generation graduates achieve outcomes broadly aligned with peer institutions in the private master's category.
Illinois Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $70,700. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,732, middle-income families pay around $23,152, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,104. Azimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University #1240 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Illinois Wesleyan University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine aid eligibility. The institution's aid structure prioritizes need-based support, with financial aid packages designed to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families are expected to contribute based on their financial circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $47,679; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Illinois Wesleyan University's median four-year earnings of $69,265, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Illinois Wesleyan University is a strong fit for students seeking a small private university experience in IL with a focus on Business and liberal arts fields. The university's intimate scale and location in Midwest make it particularly appealing for students who prefer a residential campus environment. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $69,265, placing Illinois Wesleyan University in the 72.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University #453 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong financial outcomes relative to similar institutions. The university serves a mix of students — 26.3% receive Pell Grants and 17.7% are first-generation — with a 75.5% graduation rate for Pell recipients. Published cost of attendance is $37,104, with median federal debt at graduation of $27,000. Fit depends on program alignment — Business represents 27% of degrees — and comfort with the 39.3% admit rate. Students drawn to these academic areas will find strong outcomes at this scale.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Illinois Wesleyan University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Illinois Wesleyan University's published cost of attendance is $70,700. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,732, middle-income families pay around $23,152, and higher-income families pay approximately $37,104.
Azimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University #1240 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Illinois Wesleyan University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine aid eligibility.
The institution's aid structure prioritizes need-based support, with financial aid packages designed to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families are expected to contribute based on their financial circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $47,679; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Illinois Wesleyan University's median four-year earnings of $69,265, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Illinois Wesleyan University earn median 4-year earnings of $69,265, placing Illinois Wesleyan University in the 72.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Illinois Wesleyan University #453 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
This performance reflects both the institution's concentration in business and professional fields and the strong early-career outcomes those majors typically deliver in the Midwest labor market. Illinois Wesleyan University's program portfolio is anchored in business and related professional disciplines.
Nursing stands out as the highest aggregate-return major, combining substantial enrollment with solid earnings outcomes. Nursing is the largest program with 53 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $84,527, representing 1.0× the national benchmark for the field.
Business/Commerce, General and Psychology, General also enroll meaningful cohorts of 37 and 31 graduates respectively, with Psychology, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $57,839 at 1.1× the field benchmark. Finance and Biology, General round out the top five, with $101,609 and $62,541 four-year earnings respectively, positioning both programs at 1.2× and 1.1× their respective national benchmarks.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bradley University Higher acceptance rate (31.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 36 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 77% | $66,852 | Compare |
Lewis University Higher acceptance rate (27.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 91 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 73% | $66,099 | Compare |
Illinois State University Higher acceptance rate (43.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 1 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 89% | $62,117 | Compare |
Loyola University Chicago Higher acceptance rate (36.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 81% | $71,530 | Compare |
Depaul University Higher acceptance rate (28.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 74% | $68,751 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carlow University Similar quality tier (#15829 ranked) | PA | 87% | $51,051 | #15829 | Compare |
Elmhurst University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15828 ranked) | IL | 74% | $61,462 | #15828 | Compare |
Yeshiva University Similar quality tier (#15827 ranked) | NY | 56% | $71,353 | #15827 | Compare |
Depauw University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15819 ranked) | IN | 57% | $70,527 | #15819 | Compare |
The College Of Saint Scholastica Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15817 ranked) | MN | 93% | $65,934 | #15817 | Compare |
Finance and Financial Management Services
29 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
20 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
53 graduates
Biology, General
26 graduates
Economics
8 graduates
Illinois Wesleyan University's program mix is anchored in Business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a selective liberal arts college with career-focused preparation. Nursing is the largest program with 53 graduates, followed by Business/Commerce, General, Psychology, General, Finance, and Biology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 383 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor markets. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and professional fields.
Finance leads with median earnings of $101,609 four years after enrollment and 29 graduates, followed by Accounting with $97,022 and 20 graduates. Nursing delivers $84,527 with 53 graduates, and Biology, General and Psychology, General round out the highest-earning cohorts.
These programs cluster in business, finance, and applied professional tracks where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes. The program distribution—with Business representing 27%, Arts at 8%, and Social Sciences at 7%—positions Illinois Wesleyan University as a career-oriented institution where students concentrate in fields with clear professional pathways.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
