Illinois Wesleyan University: A Comprehensive Overview of History, Academics, and Rankings
Illinois Wesleyan University, located in Bloomington, Illinois, offers a rigorous liberal arts education aimed at fostering intellectual growth, creativity, and a commitment to lifelong learning. The university cultivates a community where students develop critical thinking skills, ethical judgment, and a global perspective. This article delves into the university's history, academic programs, and rankings, providing a comprehensive overview for prospective students and interested individuals.
A Look into the History of Illinois Wesleyan University
Established in 1850 by members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Illinois Wesleyan University has maintained a nonsectarian stance throughout much of its history. The university initially aimed to provide a broad liberal arts education and was among the earlier institutions in Illinois to emphasize both liberal arts and professional studies. Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, the university grew steadily, adding new departments and developing a reputation for rigorous academics combined with personalized instruction. This growth paralleled the broader expansion of higher education in the United States during that period.
Academic Departments and Programs
Illinois Wesleyan University offers a diverse range of academic departments designed to provide students with a comprehensive liberal arts education. The university's academic structure includes notable departments such as Biology, Chemistry, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology, alongside programs in English, History, and Philosophy. Additionally, the institution features strong programs in the arts, including Music and Theatre, which provide opportunities for creative development and performance experience. Students interested in business-related fields can engage with the Management and Business Department, which offers courses aimed at cultivating leadership and analytical skills essential in today's economy.
Focus on History
Illinois Wesleyan University offers a Bachelor’s Degree in History. During the 2021-2022 academic year, Illinois Wesleyan University handed out 8 bachelor's degrees in history. About 50% of these degrees went to men with the other 50% going to women. The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at Illinois Wesleyan are white.
The history program at Illinois Wesleyan is not ranked on College Factual’s Best Colleges and Universities for History. This could be for a number of reasons, such as not having enough data on the major or school to make an accurate assessment of its quality. History students may decide to major in one of the following focus areas.
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Illinois Wesleyan University landed the #7 spot on the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in Illinois ranking. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 ’s history degrees to qualified students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid
Tuition and Fees
During the 2022-2023 academic year, part-time undergraduate students at Illinois Wesleyan paid an average of $1,734 per credit hour. The average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates are shown in the table below:
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $55,500 | $55,500 |
| Fees | $204 | $204 |
| Books and Supplies | $800 | $800 |
| On-Campus Room and Board | $12,930 | $12,930 |
| On-Campus Other Expenses | $1,700 | $1,700 |
Financial Aid and Loan Default Rates
Illinois Wesleyan University distinguishes itself with a notably low undergraduate student loan default rate. Several Illinois colleges, including Blackburn College, Knox College, University of Illinois at Springfield, Monmouth College, Illinois College, Wheaton College Illinois, Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Augustana College, Northeastern Illinois University, Greenville University, Lake Forest College, University of Chicago, Quincy University, Trinity Christian College, Chicago State University, Western Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, North Park University, North Central College, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Northwestern University, and University of St Francis, also exhibit low undergrad student loan default rates, indicative of students' ability to manage their debt effectively.
Rankings and Recognition
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked 493rd in the United States, 2033rd in the global rating, and scored in the TOP 50% across 55 research topics. Illinois Wesleyan University ranking is based on 3 factors: research output (EduRank's index has 6,290 academic publications and 40,145 citations attributed to the university), non-academic reputation, and the impact of 59 notable alumni.
Academic Rankings by Subject Area
The university has received rankings in various academic disciplines:
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- Liberal Arts & Social Sciences: Ranked 405th in the United States and 1888th in the World.
- Environmental Science: Ranked 500th in the United States and 2907th in the World.
- Biology: Ranked 528th in the United States and 3104th in the World.
- Physics: Ranked 466th in the United States and 2858th in the World.
- Engineering: Ranked 497th in the United States and 3099th in the World.
- Computer Science: Ranked 551st in the United States and 2936th in the World.
- Medicine: Ranked 584th in the United States and 2898th in the World.
- Psychology: Ranked 527th in the United States and 2190th in the World.
- Chemistry: Ranked 499th for Chemistry in the United States and 3228th in the World.
- Art & Design: Ranked 326th in the United States and 1293rd in the World.
- Economics: Ranked 409th in the United States and 1753rd in the World.
- Business: Ranked 484th in the United States and 2279th in the World.
- Mathematics: Ranked 509th in the United States and 2686th in the World.
Campus Life and Facilities
Location and Accessibility
Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, Illinois, a city situated in the Midwest region of the United States. The university uses a PO Box address with the ZIP code 61702-2900. Bloomington offers students access to Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA), which provides convenient air travel options for those coming from outside the area.
Allegiant, American, Delta and Frontier provide jet service in and out of the Central Illinois Regional Airport, with direct service to Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, and Orlando. Taxi service and rental cars are available at the airport. Bus service is available from O'Hare and Midway Airports in Chicago to the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University, one mile north of IWU campus. Bloomington/Normal is on Amtrak's Chicago-to-St. Louis route. The Amtrak station is one mile north of IWU campus. Long-distance bus service is available through both Greyhound and Trailways Lines.
Campus Buildings and Resources
State Farm Hall: IWU's new main classroom building opened for classes in the fall of 2013. The 48,700-square-foot classroom facility anchors the north end of the Robert S. Eckley Quadrangle. In addition to state-of-the-art classrooms, study areas and research spaces, the building is now home to the departments of Business Administration and Economics.
Student Life and Engagement
Located in Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a community that "invites you to make the most of your education and is ready to bend over backwards to ensure you enjoy your experience." It truly is "a small school that oozes big opportunities." Wesleyan also "does a great job getting students ready for graduate school," and faculty "put [a lot of] effort into the information being taught, and really try and relate it to real life." The school has a reputation for "overinvolved students who travel abroad, are the president of three clubs, and still maintain excellent grades." "IWU pushes us to excel academically while encouraging us to pursue our passions outside of our schoolwork," says a student. RAs receive trainings on several mental health topics during the fall.
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