Willamette University vs Wheaton College

Willamette University and Wheaton College, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Willamette, a private liberal arts university in Salem, Oregon, boasts a 68% acceptance rate and a diverse student body, with 48% female and 52% male students. Wheaton, a private Christian liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, has a more selective admissions process, with a 38% acceptance rate, and a predominantly female student body, with 61% female and 39% male students. While both institutions offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, Willamette is known for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, while Wheaton is recognized for its strong programs in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these institutions' unique characteristics and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Wheaton College logo

Wheaton College

Willamette University logo

Willamette University

Overview

Location Wheaton, Illinois Salem, Oregon
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 89.0% 80.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Undenominational

Admission

Acceptance rate 86.3% 79.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $30
SAT range 1250 - 1430 N/A
ACT range 27 - 32 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 32.0%
Students submitting ACT score 25.0%
Total number of applicants 1,993 3,680
Total number of admissions given out 1,719 2,930
Admitted students who chose to enroll 546 260
Yield rate 31.8% 8.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $54,700 $60,106
Average net price $28,319 $37,400
Tuition $40,570 $43,500
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,640

Meal plan: $4,660
Room/dormitory: $7,150

Meal plan: $6,650
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $23,469
99.0%
Average amount $30,413
Students receiving federal student loan 52.0%
Average amount $5,169
50.0%
Average amount $5,145
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $15,404
7.0%
Average amount $15,973

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,341
Men 44.9% Women 55.1%
1,236
Men 42.2% Women 57.8%
Graduate students 706
Men 34.6% Women 65.4%
549
Men 49.2% Women 50.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 5.9% 2.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 2,153 1,228
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Psychology
  • Theology
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 87.6% 72.0%
Dropout rate 3.1% 28.0%
Transferred out 9.1% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,492
  • Year 2: $48,667
  • Year 3: $61,559
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,982
  • Year 2: $37,748
  • Year 3: $48,761
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,694
  • Year 2: $39,009
  • Year 3: $48,539
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,613
  • Year 2: $33,459
  • Year 3: $41,661
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,251
  • Year 2: $37,856
  • Year 3: $41,339
Theological and Ministerial Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,767
  • Year 2: $39,049
  • Year 3: $38,775
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,864
  • Year 3: $36,928
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,471
  • Year 2: $27,126
  • Year 3: $34,682
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,825
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $32,867
Religious Education (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $31,289
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,562
  • Year 2: $73,530
  • Year 3: $85,115
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,741
  • Year 2: $49,102
  • Year 3: $65,240
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,509
  • Year 2: $39,909
  • Year 3: $57,544
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,011
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $48,905
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,615
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: $41,516
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,482
  • Year 2: $27,204
  • Year 3: $39,994
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,357
  • Year 2: $28,055
  • Year 3: $36,208
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $21,508
  • Year 3: $33,257
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,292
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: $32,785
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,658
  • Year 3: $29,070

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