Illinois Wesleyan University Acceptance Rate
Bloomington, Illinois · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 6,128
- Admitted
- 2,768
- Yield
- 15.9%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Illinois Wesleyan University's acceptance rate has fallen from 60.4% in 2014–15 to 45.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 3,427 to 6,128 (+79%) over that period.
Its 45.2% rate makes Illinois Wesleyan University more selective than about 87% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 50 tracked Illinois schools, it is more selective than about 88%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (51.2% for women vs 39.7% for men, a 11.5-point gap). Illinois Wesleyan University has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 15.9% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 3,427 | 2,071 | 60.4% | 455 |
| 2015–16 | 3,744 | 2,318 | 61.9% | 450 |
| 2016–17 | 3,841 | 2,236 | 58.2% | 425 |
| 2017–18 | 3,697 | 2,250 | 60.9% | 378 |
| 2018–19 | 3,785 | 2,216 | 58.5% | 494 |
| 2019–20 | 3,719 | 2,261 | 60.8% | 409 |
| 2020–21 | 3,896 | 2,218 | 56.9% | 441 |
| 2021–22 | 4,543 | 2,055 | 45.2% | 432 |
| 2022–23 | 4,408 | 1,861 | 42.2% | 382 |
| 2023–24 | 6,128 | 2,768 | 45.2% | 441 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 2,912 | 1,491 | 51.2% |
| Men | 3,206 | 1,273 | 39.7% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 570–660 | 26% |
| SAT Math | 570–670 | |
| ACT Composite | 24–29 | 12% |
How Illinois Wesleyan University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Illinois Wesleyan University's acceptance rate?
Illinois Wesleyan University's acceptance rate is 45.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,768 admitted of 6,128 applicants).
Is Illinois Wesleyan University test optional?
Illinois Wesleyan University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Illinois Wesleyan University?
Illinois Wesleyan University received 6,128 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,768.
What SAT score do you need for Illinois Wesleyan University?
Admitted students at Illinois Wesleyan University typically scored 570–660 on SAT Reading/Writing and 570–670 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Illinois Wesleyan University getting harder to get into?
Illinois Wesleyan University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 60.4% in 2014–15 to 45.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.iwu.edu/.