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Wheaton College
Admission at Wheaton College is close to open (87.4%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $63,756 median earnings below before the application.
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Wheaton College occupies suburban Wheaton, IL — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The school maintains its Undenominational affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Economics, where graduates median $84,829 four years out. 21.7% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 2,121 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 92.6% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1260 and 1440 — above the IL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Wheaton College's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Wheaton College received 1,866 applications and admitted 1,679 (90%), with 553 enrolling.
Wheaton College is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1260–1440 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Wheaton College's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 650 | 680 | 720 |
| SAT Math | 610 | 670 | 720 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 30 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Wheaton College compares
| Wheaton College | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 87.4% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $45,546 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $63,756 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Wheaton College: $63,756 median at year ten, versus $58,572 across Illinois institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $45,546 regardless of where you're from. At Wheaton College, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 2,121 undergrads, Wheaton College is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
84.8% of Wheaton College students finish a bachelor's within six years — 29.9 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $45,546 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Wheaton College
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Economics | $84,829 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $80,258 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $69,566 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $65,230 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,695 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $52,647 |
| Psychology, General | $49,974 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $48,374 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $42,635 |
| Religious Education | $42,605 |
| Music | $40,329 |
| Philosophy | $40,076 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,363 |
| Anthropology | $37,501 |
Median earnings for these 14 Wheaton College programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $63,756 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 23 additional Wheaton College programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Wheaton College?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1260–1440 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 87.4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Wheaton College's acceptance rate?
90% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,679 admitted from 1,866 applicants.
How much does Wheaton College cost?
At Wheaton College, published tuition is $45,546 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Wheaton College's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Wheaton College graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $63,756 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- VanderCook College of Music — 89.5% admitted
- Trinity International University-Illinois — 100% admitted
- Taylor Business Institute — 91.2% admitted
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — 97.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.