Wheaton by the Numbers

Wheaton is an explicitly Christian, academically rigorous, fully residential liberal arts college and graduate school located in Wheaton, Illinois. More than 40 undergraduate majors in the liberal arts and sciences, and 18 areas of graduate study are offered by top-quality faculty scholars.

Enrollment - Fall 2024

• 2,150 undergraduates, 724 graduate students
• 55% female, 45% male (degree seeking undergraduates)
• 27% of all degree seeking students are ethnic minority students; an additional 4% are international. 8% are MKs (Missionary Kids) and 4% are TCKs (Third Culture Kids)
• From 50 states, 43 countries, and 55+ church denominations
• 73% of degree seeking undergraduates are from outside of Illinois (excludes international students)

Retention

Of the first-time, full-time students who enrolled at Wheaton for the fall 2023 semester, 93% returned to Wheaton for the fall 2024 semester.

Graduation Rates

Our most recent cohort of students saw 76% graduating within four years, 84% within five years, and 85% within six years. The following 6-year graduation rates are disaggregated by category for the most recent year available.

• Non-Resident Aliens: 88%
• Hispanic/Latino: 80%
• Asian: 89%
• Black/African American: 79%
• White: 89%
• Two or more races: 88%
• Recipients of a Federal Pell Grant: 83%

Outcomes

• Average Student Debt: $28,807 (Class of 2024)
• Landed Rate (employed, interning, or further education): 98% (Class of 2024)

Wheaton in the Rankings

• Princeton Review: #4 in Friendliest Students, #18 in Top 20 Best Alumni Newtworks (2025)
• Niche: #38 in Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America (2025)
• MONEY Magazine: One of the Best Colleges in America (2024)
• Forbes: Named as one of America's Top Colleges (2023)

Cost and Aid

Wheaton College full-time tuition, average housing, food, and fees will be $62,500 for the 2025-26 academic year. However, most Wheaton students pay significantly less than that amount.

• The average financial aid package (consisting of scholarships, grant aid, and loans) was $31,556 for incoming first-year students in 2024-2025.
• More than $49 million in scholarships and grants are awarded (includes federal, state, and institutional sources).
• Federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships are available. Music, ROTC, multicultural, and international scholarships are also available.
• 22% of enrolled, full-time students are Pell Grant recipients.
• 91% of undergraduate students receive scholarships and grants.

Faculty

• Full-time: 185
• 96% of full-time faculty hold earned doctorates or other terminal degree
• 25 endowed faculty chairs
• 10:1 student to faculty ratio

Freshman Profile (Class of 2027)

• Average high school GPA: 3.79 (unweighted scale)
• 52 (9.4%) children of alumni
• Average submitted SAT/ACT: 1380/30
• 45% graduated in top 10% of their high school class; 76% graduated in top 25% of their high school class
• 25% are varsity student-athletes
• 112 students are majors in the Conservatory of Music

Accreditation

Wheaton College has full accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, as well as specialized accreditation for music, psychology, education, and theology.

Annual Contribution to the Regional Economy

$150 Million