Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $28,953 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $4.7K more than the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $28,644 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $71,134.
- Full price
- $71,134 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Published data end at $110K
- use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
- Merit aid
- 29% · avg $41K
- of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- With an average merit award: $30K · proxy: 29% got one. A possibility, not a promise
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $18K a year |
| $30–48K | $19K a year |
| $48–75K | $23K a year |
| $75–110K | $27K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
$28,953
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
100% got grants averaging $42,181; 0% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$27K
≈ $286/month for 10 years
1.6 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
63% of undergrads borrow federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full23–24%
- Paying it down33–34%
- Payments paused24–26%
- Not paying it down13–14%
- Behind or in default0–4%
- Forgiven or discharged0–2%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
Very generousGrants cover 59% of the $71,134 full price on average across all first-years (very generous), more than at 93% of colleges. The sticker price overstates what most students here actually pay.
$42,181 in grants per first-year ÷ $71,134 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (441), 2023–24
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (441)
- Federal aid + grants314avg grant $42.5K
- Grants, no federal aid127avg grant $41.4K
- No grants0pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (314 of 441), because income is only reported for them.
From Illinois Wesleyan University's Common Data Set
First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2023–24 (estimated).
| First-years | All full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Have financial need | 77%340 students | 71%1,119 students |
| Need met, on average | 93% | 90% |
| Need fully met | 23% | 22% |
| Average aid package | $48,356 | $46,113 |
| Average need-based grant | $44,325 | $41,420 |
| Average need-based loan | $4,108 | $5,208 |
| Merit aid without need | – | 28%average $31,175 |
Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.
Applying for aid
For fall 2024 entrants.
Priority date: November 1
Dates for fall 2024 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
International students
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Illinois Wesleyan University Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24 (estimated);Illinois Wesleyan University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)