Wheaton, ILprivate nonprofitwww.wheaton.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 85%–90% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Wheaton College, a small liberal arts institution in Illinois, blends rigorous academics with a deeply rooted Christian ethos. Known for its strong theology programs and tight-knit community, it attracts students seeking intellectual growth within a faith-based framework. With a surprisingly high acceptance rate for its caliber, Wheaton offers a distinctive mix of academic rigor and spiritual formation.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Wheaton College's admissions process is notably less selective than many peer institutions, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 68% to 90% across different sources. The middle 50% of admitted students typically score between 1260–1470 on the SAT or 27–32 on the ACT. About 9.4% of admitted freshmen are children of alumni, creating a modest LegacyAn applicant whose parent (or sometimes other close relative) attended the college. Some schools give a small edge to legacy applicants. presence. The college draws students from 42 states, indicating a broad geographic reach despite its religious affiliation.
Wheaton offers over 100 academic programs across disciplines, with particular strength in theology and sciences. The most popular majors include Social Sciences (16% of graduates) and Business/Management (10%). Recent additions include nursing, finance, and criminal justice programs. The college has produced notable scholars, including Rhodes Scholars, and emphasizes interdisciplinary learning through internships and research projects. The biblical archaeology and molecular biology programs are standouts among its STEM offerings.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus life revolves around Wheaton's Christian identity, with chapel attendance expected and community living emphasized. The college offers 100+ student organizations, including unique theme houses and makerspaces. While the social scene isn't known for Greek life or party culture (Niche gives campus life a 'C minus'), students describe a supportive environment with strong mentoring relationships. Residence life is considered integral to the Wheaton experience, fostering what the administration calls 'life-to-life encounters.'
Wheaton boasts strong post-graduation outcomes, with 97% of 2020 graduates employed or in graduate school within six months. The four-year graduation rate ranges from 73-85% across different reports, significantly above national averages. Alumni earn median salaries of $39,703 one year out and $58,828 after five years—well above typical liberal arts college benchmarks. The average student debt at graduation is $28,807, slightly below the national average for private colleges.
Tuition at Wheaton is steep, but the college offers substantial aid. Merit scholarships can reach $46,000 annually, with need-based grants up to $42,140. The average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid is $38,442. Federal loan options range from $5,500 for freshmen to $7,500 for upperclassmen. About 90% of students receive some form of financial assistance, making the actual cost significantly lower than the sticker price for most families.
Wheaton occupies a unique niche as a top-tier Christian liberal arts college that doesn't compromise academic rigor for religious identity. Its theology program is arguably the strongest among evangelical institutions, while still maintaining excellent sciences and humanities. The 9:1 student-faculty ratio fosters close mentorship, and the suburban Chicago location offers urban opportunities without sacrificing campus community. For students seeking serious intellectual engagement within a faith-based framework, Wheaton delivers an experience few colleges can match.