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
蘑菇传媒 ranks 锛�7 in the nation and 锛�1 in Illinois on Zippia's
2023 list of based on Department of Education College Scorecard data.
The Princeton Review
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 蘑菇传媒 among just 14 percent of America鈥檚 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 蘑菇传媒 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
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鈥檚 list of , which recognizes the colleges that excel at student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness to students. Ranked No. 160 nationally, 蘑菇传媒 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 in the nation (among schools with fewer than 3,000 undergraduate students). Illinois Wesleyan is also ranked #15 on the including institutions of all kinds.
Niche
Niche ranks Illinois Wesleyan 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 (subscription required), which focus on how well colleges set their graduates up for financial success. 蘑菇传媒
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 . 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 . 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. "蘑菇传媒
allows you to become who you want to be, but only if you let it."
Colleges of Distinction
蘑菇传媒 is named among Colleges of Distinction 2026-27. 蘑菇传媒 is
described as "a 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 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 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.