Illinois Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts university in the twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, a few hours from Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis. It treats anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as an international applicant, and it funds those students through its regular undergraduate merit awards. Every admitted international student is assigned a merit scholarship automatically, worth up to US$38,000 per year and renewable for four years, with no separate scholarship form to file.
The largest merit award is the Presidential Scholarship, which covers full tuition. Students who file the CSS PROFILE can be considered for additional IWU-funded scholarships, loans and campus employment on top of the merit award. The university states plainly that it has no full-ride award, so every student still budgets for housing, meals and other living costs.
Benefits & funding
- Merit scholarship of up to US$38,000 per year for qualified international applicants, renewable for four years.
- The Presidential Scholarship covers full tuition; recipients still pay housing, meals, health insurance, visa costs and international travel.
- University merit awards behind these figures: the IWU Alumni Scholarship, up to US$38,000 per year for College of Liberal Arts and School of Nursing applicants, and the IWU Alumni Talent Scholarship, up to US$39,000 for College of Fine Arts majors decided by audition, portfolio review or interview. A student who qualifies for both receives the talent award.
- CSS PROFILE filers may also receive IWU-funded scholarships, loans and campus-employment opportunities, renewable for up to four years.
- In the Fall 2022–23 cycle the average total package after a CSS PROFILE submission was US$42,614 per year.
- For scale: 2025–26 tuition is US$59,226, and the projected first full-year cost including housing, food, fees and insurance is US$78,514.
- IWU states there is no full-ride or fully funded scholarship at the university.
Eligibility
- Undergraduate applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Admission to Illinois Wesleyan is the gate: merit scholarships are assigned to every admitted international student automatically.
- Awards reflect academic achievement and scores on the required entrance exams; Fine Arts talent awards rest on an audition, portfolio or interview.
- Official records from every secondary school and college attended, covering the most recent three years of grades, in English and notarised.
- English proficiency shown by first-language English, at least three years of secondary schooling taught in English, or IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Duolingo English Test 115, or PTE 56. Scores older than two years are not accepted.
- Applicants must be 17 by August 1 for fall entry or January 1 for spring entry, because students live on campus for their first three years.
- A Family Financial Statement is required. An application showing the required contribution of US$30,000 per year is then read need-blind.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
High School · Bachelor Enrolled
Age requirement
≥ 17 yrs
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Application process
- 1Submit the Titan Application or the Common Application; there is no fee and no preference between the two.
- 2Send official secondary school and college transcripts, translated into English and notarised.
- 3Provide English proficiency evidence, a passport photocopy, the essay and the Family Financial Statement. A recommendation letter, personal statement and SAT or ACT scores are optional.
- 4Merit scholarship consideration happens automatically with the admission review; no separate scholarship application exists.
- 5For need-based support, file the CSS PROFILE using IWU institution code 1320. The preferred filing date is March 1, and admitted students may ask an international admissions counsellor about a fee waiver.
- 6Reply to an offer by the May 1 decision deadline.
Program timeline
Early Action I application deadline
Nov 15, 2026
Early Action I decisions released; Early Action II deadline
Dec 15, 2026
Early Action II decisions released
Jan 15, 2027
preferred CSS PROFILE filing date
Mar 1, 2027
preferred application deadline for international applicants entering in the fall
Mar 15, 2027
reply deadline for admitted students
May 1, 2027
Regular Decision applications are accepted at any time, with decisions sent after December 15