Rankings

Illinois Wesleyan stands out among the thousands of colleges and universities in the nation, compared on a wide range of factors by a growing number of publishers.

National Reputation

Great College for Getting a Job

Illinois Wesleyan University ranks ＃7 in the nation and ＃1 in Illinois on Zippia's 2023 list of The Best Colleges for Getting a Job, based on Department of Education College Scorecard data.

The Princeton Review

Illinois Wesleyan University has been included in The Princeton Review's annual unranked listing of Best Colleges every year since the list's inception. Inclusion in the 2026 list of The Best 392 Colleges places IWU among just 14 percent of America’s nearly 2,800 four-year colleges recognized by the Princeton Review.

Colleges are selected based on data about their academic offerings and surveys of students attending the schools. Students say 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."

U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News and World Report has once again put Illinois Wesleyan at No. 2 out of 89 for regional colleges in the Midwest. This year, the University ranked No. 2 for top private colleges in the region.

The University also ranked in the Midwest region:

No. 4 in top performers on social mobility
No. 3 for undergraduate teaching programs
No. 3 for best value schools

TIME's America's Best Colleges

Illinois Wesleyan is named on TIME’s list of America’s Best Colleges of 2026-2027, which recognizes the colleges that excel at student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness to students. Ranked No. 160 nationally, Illinois Wesleyan University is the highest-ranked small private liberal arts university outside the Chicago metro area in Illinois and the neighboring states of Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Best Consensus Ranked College

In rankings that combine results of the most respected college ranking systems with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews from around the web, College Consensus named Illinois Wesleyan #26 on its 2026 list of Top 100 Consensus Ranked Small Colleges & Universities in the nation (among schools with fewer than 3,000 undergraduate students). Illinois Wesleyan is also ranked #15 on the Top Consensus Ranked Schools in the Midwest, including institutions of all kinds.

Niche

Niche ranks Illinois Wesleyan #8 among all colleges and universities in Illinois for for 2026. Niche rankings are based on analysis of key statistics, including data from the U.S. Department of Education, and thousands of student reviews.

Wall Street Journal/College Pulse

Illinois Wesleyan is listed among the Best Colleges in America in the 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings (subscription required), which focus on how well colleges set their graduates up for financial success. IWU is ranked in the top 10 overall colleges and universities in Illinois. The rankings are based on financial outcomes, learning environment (based on student surveys) and diversity in various metrics.

WalletHub's Best Colleges

Illinois Wesleyan is the #19 college in the Midwest on WalletHub's 2027 Best Colleges & Universities report . WalletHub compares institutions across 30 key measures, evaluating factors such as student selectivity, cost & financing and career outcomes.

Forbes: America's Top Colleges

Illinois Wesleyan was named to the Forbes list of America's Top Colleges 2027. This list spotlights the 500 U.S. colleges that produce the best academic and career outcomes for students from all economic backgrounds.

Fiske Guide to Colleges

The Fiske Guide to Colleges describes Illinois Wesleyan as a college with an emphasis on creativity and the spirit of inquiry. "The school provides a multitude of paths down which one can travel and it is up to the student to decide which path to take," one student reported. "IWU allows you to become who you want to be, but only if you let it."

Colleges of Distinction

IWU is named among Colleges of Distinction 2026-27. Illinois Wesleyan University is described as "a true renaissance university where students are encouraged to explore all of their interests." In addition, "Students have a host of compelling opportunities to enrich their education with off-campus experiences that might involve spending a year at Pembroke College/Oxford University or perhaps a semester in Washington D.C. through American University."

College Factual

Illinois Wesleyan is identified among the top 5% of colleges nationwide in College Factual's 2027 Best Colleges ranking, created to help students find the best quality colleges in the U.S. Illinois Wesleyan is also rated as a Fair Price college, based on its Value for Your Money analysis. Data is based on IPEDS and the College Scorecard.

Best College for Your Money

Illinois Wesleyan has been recognized as one of Money’s Best Colleges in America 2026. Money's analysis showcases the country's top colleges based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more. Money uses star ratings to help identify standout schools that fit your budget.