Wheaton College
- Graduation Rate
- 86% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,756 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $26,975 D
- 57% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 87% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $16.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,627,745.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 56% more than the national college median.
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A 86% graduation rate — 50% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wheaton College Matters
Wheaton College is a private liberal arts college in Wheaton, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 2,121
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 88
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, English & Literature
Why students choose Wheaton College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 87% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1260–1470. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $26,975 a year after grants and scholarships — 57% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,756 ten years after enrolling — 56% above the typical college, against $23,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.82 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Wheaton College has an impressive graduation rate of 86%. This reflects a strong commitment to student success and support. With an acceptance rate of 87%, the college welcomes a diverse range of applicants, making it accessible for many students.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data sheds light on economic mobility for graduates. While specific mobility rates are not available, the earnings for alumni ten years after graduation stand at $63,756. This suggests that a degree from Wheaton can lead to solid financial outcomes, positioning graduates well in the job market.
Attending Wheaton College comes with a net price of $26,975 and a median debt of $23,250. Graduates can expect to earn a competitive salary, which can help manage their debt. Students who thrive here are often those interested in social sciences, business, biology, literature, and psychology, looking to engage deeply with their fields of study.
Rankings
- #24 Best Communications Colleges in Illinois
- #33 Best Biology Colleges in Illinois
- #34 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
- #34 Best Data Science Colleges in Illinois
- #37 Best Online Education Programs in Illinois
- #39 Best Education Colleges in Illinois
- #41 Best Psychology Colleges in Illinois
- #43 Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Wheaton College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wheaton College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Wheaton College, located in Wheaton, Illinois, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,380. The graduation rate is roughly 86%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Retention Rate
- 93%
- SAT Average
- 1380
- ACT Midpoint
- 30
- SAT Range
- 1260–1470
- ACT Range
- 28–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 63%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,473
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- Applicants
- 1,893
- Admitted
- 1,674
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wheaton College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wheaton College is $45,546, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,975. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,001 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $45,546
- Out-of-State
- $45,546
- Avg Net Price
- $26,975
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 43%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $20,001
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,587
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,553
- Family Income $110K+
- $33,435
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Wheaton College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Wheaton College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wheaton College earn a median of $63,756, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $50,270
- 8 Years
- $58,108
- 10 Years
- $63,756
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.36x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (479)
- 79%
- 100% (479)
- 79%
- 100% (479)
- 79%
- 100% (479)
- 79%
How Wheaton Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Wheaton College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wheaton College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $26,975/year ($107,900 total). Graduates earn $63,756 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,735,645 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,627,745 (16.1× your investment). The median debt is $23,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 86% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $107,900
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,735,645
- Net Return
- $1,627,745
- ROI Multiple
- 16.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $26,975
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 86%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,898,817
- Investment Income
- $-119,783,293
Top Programs
The fields Wheaton College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 19% $54,760 early-career
- Business & Marketing 12% $57,826 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 12% $38,691 early-career
- English & Literature 8% $32,231 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 6% $24,858 early-career
- Psychology 5% $23,930 early-career
- Communications 5% $44,852 early-career
- Education 5% $44,980 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Wheaton College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wheaton College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Wheaton College, located in Wheaton, Illinois, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,380. The graduation rate is roughly 86%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wheaton College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wheaton College is $45,546, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,975. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,001 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
Is Wheaton College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wheaton College earn a median of $63,756, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Wheaton College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wheaton College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wheaton College.
- Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Close peer73% grad $63,764 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- John Carroll UniversityUniversity Heights, OH · Close peer78% grad $62,860 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA · Close peer78% grad $61,723 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso, IN · Close peer69% grad $63,191 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- College of Saint BenedictSaint Joseph, MN · Close peer80% grad $63,260 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bellarmine UniversityLouisville, KY · Close peer66% grad $62,069 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wheaton College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wheaton College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note