Wheaton College, in Illinois, is one of those colleges that appears on many families’ lists when they are looking for a small, demanding school with an identity of its own. Before you and your child take another step, it is worth sitting down with the official data that the United States government reports about it: who studies there, how much it costs, how difficult it is to get in, how many people take on debt, and how many complete their degree. None of these numbers makes the decision for you. But without them, deciding is guessing.
Let’s take it piece by piece, like checking the engine before a long trip.
What kind of college Wheaton College is
Let’s start with the basics: what kind of school this is, so that everything else has a place to fit.
Wheaton College is a private, nonprofit college offering programs of four years or more. Carnegie, the system that classifies colleges in the United States, describes it as a small, four-year, highly residential baccalaureate college focused on the arts and sciences. That last term has a specific meaning: at least half of degree-seeking undergraduate students lived in housing owned, controlled, or affiliated with the institution, and at least 80 out of every 100 attended full time. It is not a school designed around commuting every day, although that does not mean your child could not do so if you live nearby.
Speaking of nearby: Wheaton College is in the city of Wheaton, Illinois, within DuPage County, in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its census code places it in a suburb, within the urbanized area but outside the heart of the city. If your child is thinking about living at home, do not rely on what the map says: drive the route yourself on a weekday at the time when their classes would take place. Actual traffic almost never matches the GPS estimate.
In the system that classifies the levels of study offered by each institution, Wheaton College appears as a school that awards bachelor’s degrees or higher and that also reports offering graduate education, including the doctorate as its highest reported level. This is institutional information, not a promise about your child’s major: it does not say whether their specific program connects undergraduate and graduate study. Ask the school directly.
Another fact worth understanding clearly, even if only by process of elimination: Wheaton College is not listed as a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges in this national directory, 138 do carry at least one of those three designations. Wheaton’s absence from that list says nothing about which communities it serves today or how your child would feel there. You can learn that by seeing which student organizations and cultural centers currently exist and by speaking with someone who already studies on campus.
And here is the first truth worth stating plainly: none of the above tells you whether Wheaton College is “good” or “bad.” It tells you what kind of place it is. Quality, fit, and actual cost are a different conversation, and we are going to have it.
Who its students are and how large the school is
Wheaton College had 2,799 students enrolled in the most recent official fall count. It is a medium-sized school, within the range of 1,000 to 4,999 students, and among the 941 comparable selective private schools in this census, its size is one of the most common: neither one of the large schools nor one of the small ones.
But that figure of 2,799 hides something important: 2,119 are undergraduates and 680 are graduate students. If your child is about to begin college, the number that matters is not the total but the undergraduate count: 2,119. A substantial part of what makes this school look “large” is made up of people who have already completed a degree and returned for another one.
As for who makes up that undergraduate population: 8 out of every 100 students are Hispanic or Latino. It is a small minority, and compared with the 941 selective private schools in this census that report the data, Wheaton falls below the midpoint of the group, though not in the bottom quarter. If your child will be one of the few Latino students on that campus, this does not remove the school from consideration, but it is real information: during the visit, ask what exists specifically for Latino students—a student group, a cultural center, someone in the office who speaks Spanish—and try to speak with a current student before deciding.
The undergraduate population is almost evenly divided between men and women: 55 out of every 100 are women. Almost no adults older than age 25 study there: just 1 out of every 100. And as for where people come from: fewer than 25 out of every 100 first-time students reported permanent residence in Illinois—21 out of every 100 did so. The rest come from other states or other countries, or their residence was not clearly reported. It is a predominantly out-of-state community.
None of these numbers makes the school good or bad. They describe who is enrolled today, and nothing more.
How academics work
The year at Wheaton College is organized into semesters: two long terms of approximately 15 weeks each. This is standard across much of the US higher education system, so if your child comes from a high school that also operates on semesters, the pace will feel familiar.
As for prior credits: the school reported that it accepts credit from AP exams, but it did not indicate that it accepts credit for life experience. Here is a useful warning: saying that it accepts AP does not mean that it awards credit for every exam or score. This information does not tell us what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific major. Request a written transfer-credit evaluation before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
The school also enrolls high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program, so if your child is still in high school, that opportunity may be worth asking about.
As for what people study there: in the reported year, Wheaton College awarded 568 bachelor’s degrees across 20 different fields of study. The distribution is broad: even the field with the most degrees—social sciences—accounted for no more than 16 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. There is no single dominant major that defines the entire school. Still, “20 fields with a row in the report” does not mean 20 individual majors: each field groups several programs, and some rows may report zero. Verify the exact program that interests your child, using its full name.
As for the ratio of students to instructional staff: the official ratio is 10 students for every full-time-equivalent member of the instructional staff. Compared with similar schools, that ratio falls below the median, meaning it is on the lower side. Here is the distinction we cannot skip: this ratio does not tell you the actual size of first-year classes. It is an institutional average, not a classroom measure. By itself, it also does not demonstrate that more staff are available for each student.
The academic pathways the institution reports
Wheaton College reports offering several structured pathways: study abroad, undergraduate research with faculty outside the classroom, preparation for teacher certification below the postsecondary level, the opportunity to complete preparation in certain teacher-specialization areas at the institution itself, and state approval of its program for initial teacher certification.
If your child is interested in teaching, combining study with early research, or spending a semester abroad, these are opportunities that the institution says it offers. Their presence in the report does not say how often they are used or exactly how they work for each major: confirm that directly with the appropriate academic office.
What it takes to get into Wheaton College
This is where many families begin to feel anxious, so let’s take it slowly and use the exact numbers.
Wheaton College does not have open admission. It reviews specific components before saying yes. Of the nine considerations covered by this report—not counting standardized tests or legacy status—it marked five as required: the high school transcript, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory curriculum the institution requires, letters of recommendation, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. Other components are not required, but the school does consider them if you submit them: your child’s class rank, personal essay, work experience, and whether a family member previously studied there.
Regarding that last item: if no one in your family studied at Wheaton College, do not spend energy worrying about it. Spend that energy on what is within your control: the transcript, the letters, and the essay.
The undergraduate application fee is $50.
Now for the question you really want answered: how difficult is it to get in? In the most recent reported cycle, Wheaton College received 1,866 first-time applications and offered admission to 1,679. That is 90 out of every 100 applicants admitted. It is a high rate: compared with the 942 selective private schools in this census, Wheaton is on the more accessible side. Seven out of ten of those schools, or more, accepted an equal or smaller share of their applicants.
Put simply: out of every 100 applicants, 90 receive a yes. But being likely to get in does not make what follows easy. This percentage is for the entire school and a single cycle. It does not say how much the school will cost, how many students complete their degrees, or whether the specific major your child wants has an additional selection process. Those three questions must be investigated separately.
Here is a number many families do not know and that is worth keeping in mind: out of every 100 students admitted by Wheaton, only 33 ultimately enrolled there. The other 67 had acceptance letters in hand and chose another school. This proportion is high compared with similar schools—in most of them, a smaller share of admitted students enroll—but the message for your family is always the same: receiving the letter is not the same as deciding to attend. When your child’s admission decisions arrive, put the letters side by side and compare net price, major, and distance before the deposit deadline. This percentage should not make the decision.
As for tests: the SAT and ACT are not required at Wheaton College. If your child submits them, the school considers them. If your child does not submit them, the application remains under consideration just the same. Of the students who did enroll, 26 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and among them the middle half scored between 650 and 720 in reading and writing and between 610 and 720 in mathematics. Take note: these ranges describe students who had already enrolled and chose to submit their scores, not all applicants. That 650 is not a minimum that must be reached, and that 720 does not guarantee anything either.
And regarding transfers: of the bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, only 11 out of every 100 are recorded as having transferred to another school without completing their degree there. This is a low proportion compared with similar schools. On the other hand, in the most recent fall, 40 new transfer students arrived from other institutions. This number does not say how many courses were accepted when they arrived: request that information in writing, with the course list in hand, before anyone changes schools.
How much it costs and what that number really means
At Wheaton College, among 42 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $17,966. Among 43 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $20,430; among 121 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $35,320. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $17,354 between the average for the lowest-income band, which included 42 students, and the average for the highest-income band, which included 121 students. These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $31,346.
$17,966 was the average net price for families in the lowest-income band in the 2022-23 academic year. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether requesting the financial aid letter is worthwhile.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours is the first step. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The letter sent to you is what matters.
The aid students actually receive and the debt that accumulates
Here is genuinely good news, stated plainly: 90 out of every 100 degree-seeking students at Wheaton College receive some grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. Receiving something is the norm there, not the exception. Among those who received it, the average was $23,367 for the year. That is real money. But a high average among aid recipients is not your offer: that average includes people who received much more and people who received much less. What matters is the amount left for your family after aid, and that number is not found in any general average—it is in the letter your child receives.
As for Pell, the federal aid program for low-income families: it reached 20 out of every 100 degree-seeking students at Wheaton College.
And now the part I want you to read with the same attention as the good news: in the most recently reported school year, 47 out of every 100 undergraduate students at Wheaton College received a federal student loan. Almost half. Among those who borrowed, each received an average of $6,374 that year. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years, the total—before interest—would be about $25,496. That figure is decided before the first signature, not at the end of the journey.
Compared with similar schools, Wheaton College’s share of students with loans falls in the middle of the group: it is neither among the schools that generate the most debt nor among those that generate the least. And an important clarification: this average covers only federal loans in the student’s name from the most recent year. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt from private banks, or credit-card debt. Nor is it the total debt with which someone graduates—to determine that, the four years would have to be added together, and that specific number is not in this report.
Wheaton College also reports offering an installment tuition-payment plan as an additional way to manage the cost.
Here is the hard truth I want to give you without cushioning it: at this school, using federal debt to finance an education is common, not exceptional. Almost half of the students do it. That does not make the school good or bad. It makes it a school where calculating the full cost—for all four years, not just one—is worthwhile before your child commits.
Life outside the classroom: housing, athletics, the library, and support services
Wheaton College has institution-owned housing, although it does not require all first-time students to live there. It also offers meal plans, including a large plan with a fixed number of meals per week. The reported maximum capacity of institutional housing is 2,116 students. The existence of a room does not guarantee a bed for your child in particular: request the current rate, the housing application deadline, and whether a space is guaranteed or your child will be placed on a waiting list, all in writing.
As for ROTC: the school reported that an opportunity is available, and the only branch confirmed in writing is the Army. The Navy and Air Force are not marked. If your child is interested in another branch, it is not confirmed in this report—that does not mean it is impossible; it means you need to ask directly. And even though the opportunity is marked, the data do not say whether the program takes place on this campus or another one, how many spaces are available, or whether associated scholarships exist.
In athletics, Wheaton College does compete at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA. It reports participation in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. This participation applies to the institution and is not a guarantee for your child: if they are interested in a team, contact the coach directly and ask whether space is available, which division the team competes in, and whether that sport awards athletic scholarships.
As for distance education: the school reports offering it at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and states that it has at least one program in which all required courses can be completed remotely. However, in the most recent count, no undergraduate student was taking an entirely remote course load. If this is relevant to your family, confirm in writing the exact level and program to which it applies.
The library operates with paid staff, and its annual spending exceeded the threshold of $100,000 recorded by the federal government. It has physical and digital collections and participates in interlibrary lending. Exceeding that threshold does not guarantee that specific databases exist for the major that interests your child—ask using the major’s name.
Finally, the institution reports offering combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program, and a published web address for disability services. The fact that these services are reported does not measure their actual quality or effectiveness: learn about that by speaking with current students and the appropriate office.
How many stay and how many complete their degrees
For many families, this is the most important question of all: if my child enrolls here, will they finish?
Let’s begin with retention, which measures something different from graduation: how many of those who enrolled are still at the school one year later or have already graduated. In the cohort that entered as first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students, 503 students made up the initial cohort. Of those, 472 met the official retention criterion: 94 out of every 100. It is a high proportion. Compared with 930 selective private schools in this census, Wheaton College ranks among those that retain the largest share of their cohorts: nine out of ten similar schools, or more, retained an equal or smaller proportion.
But here is the necessary clarification: this number combines those who remained enrolled with those who had already graduated. The source does not separate those two groups or say what happened to the remaining 6 percent.
As for graduation: of the bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 87 out of every 100 graduated within six years—502 out of 580 students. This count includes only those who enrolled full time and had not previously attended another college. By four years, the figure had already reached 82 out of every 100, just five points below the final six-year result. Compared with 920 similar selective private schools, Wheaton College ranks among those that graduate the largest shares of their students: nine out of ten schools in that group, or more, reported an equal or smaller proportion.
These are high numbers, and it is worth saying so as clearly as I state the difficult numbers: almost everyone who entered full time in that specific cohort graduated within the expected time. But a high percentage is not a promise for your child in particular. It is what happened to that cohort at that school. What is within your family’s control is making sure your child enters with their credits in order and knows from the first semester who their academic advisor is and when registration opens for courses in their major.
One last, even broader figure: following a cohort that entered between July 2015 and June 2016—including both first-time students and students with prior college experience—by the August 2023 reporting point, 87 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this institution. Among Pell Grant recipients specifically, the proportion was 82 out of every 100, seven points below the group without Pell Grants. Among 935 comparable selective private schools, Wheaton College once again ranks among those that graduate the largest shares of their students within this eight-year window.
Again, apply the same discipline: a high number describes what happened to a specific group during a specific period. It does not predict your child’s outcome. It is real evidence that, at this school, most of those who enter finish.
What you can do with all of this
You have made it this far with a complete picture of what the United States government reports about Wheaton College: who studies there, how selective it is in practice, its listed cost and what families in different income bands ultimately pay, how many people leave with debt, and how likely someone who enrolls is to finish.
None of these numbers makes the decision for you. And none tells you whether Wheaton College is the right school for your child, because that answer depends on two pieces this article cannot know: what your child wants to study and what they have accomplished so far, and what your family can and is willing to pay.
If your child is just beginning to build a college list, this information can help them ask whether they want a small, mostly residential college with a small Latino community and a high listed price but meaningful aid available. If your child has already received an admission letter, the question changes: how much does the financial aid letter say your family will have to pay out of pocket, and how does that compare with the other letters on the table? If you are in the middle of the process, the next steps are easy to name and not always easy to complete: fill out the FAFSA, request the AP credit evaluation in writing, confirm housing and its actual cost, and speak with someone who studies there today.
You now have a thorough understanding of one of the three pieces your family needs to decide. Combine it with what your child wants and has accomplished and with what you can afford. A plan comes from that combination, not from a single number.
Source note: the information in this article comes from data reported by Wheaton College to the US Department of Education’s IPEDS system, primarily covering the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles. Best College Aid does not represent Wheaton College or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data for informational purposes.