About

See what students say:

Academics

Located in Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a community that "invites you to make the most of your education and is ready to bend over backwards to ensure you enjoy your experience." Though the school doesn't have that big of a reputation outside the Midwest "despite its excellent education," it is an underrated gem that is "always trying to give students opportunities that are beyond what most schools can give." It truly is "a small school that oozes big opportunities."

Professors are "brilliant and accessible" "insightful" individuals who are "the best in their field." "The exuberance they have for their subject area and their students is very evident." Many of them are involved in research and "often include students in helping them," while others are involved in other ways; for example, "the [former] mayor of Bloomington is also a political science professor-how cool is that!" "There have been a few life-changing professors who I am so grateful to have taken their class," says a business administration major.

Facilities and the career center are excellent, there are numerous opportunities for community engagement and research, and "there are so many resources and programs that help students who are seeking any type of support, whether it be academic, moral, or health." Wesleyan also "does a great job getting students ready for graduate school," and faculty "put [a lot of] effort into the information being taught, and really try and relate it to real life."

The school has a reputation for "overinvolved students who travel abroad, are the president of three clubs, and still maintain excellent grades." "IWU pushes us to excel academically while encouraging us to pursue our passions outside of our schoolwork," says a student. Overall, IWU is "a friendly community where your professors become mentors, your classmates become lifelong friends, and you graduate prepared to make a real difference in the world."

Student Body

The typical Wesleyan student "has a major that they take great pride in studying" and "often compare workloads to bond." Students here are "very academically focused" ("it's very rare to find students who don't try") but are also aware that "having a social life is important as well." Almost everyone is "very liberal and rather artistic" and "very involved with many different activities." While there are noticeable groups such as "athletes, Greek life, and theater kids" which mainly stick together, "everyone has friends in other departments and organizations." There is "lots of competition on campus for internships and research opportunities," but "everyone is very helpful when it comes to informing others of opportunities." A "large percentage" of the campus is Greek life-affiliated.

Campus Life

As with many colleges, there's a strong weekday-weekend divide: "There is a fair trade of work and play." Sunday through Wednesday nights, "people are studying, going to meetings for clubs, maybe going to an event or two," but come the weekend, students "will go to parties at fraternity houses or off-campus houses, or go to the bars." BloomingtonNormal also has a variety of "great restaurants" and shopping venues which "are fun places to go to on the weekends," and neighboring ISU offers "some of that big college town culture [that] can be found in the area."

The Office of Student Activities "does a great job having entertainment available for students" and almost every weekend a free event is held in the student center, "whether that be a concert, comedian, movie, or other entertainment." There is a "plethora of study groups" ("People are very receptive to getting work done together"), "great opportunities for intellectual discussions" at the coffee shop, and "students are always in food areas discussing, reading, or doing homework." "We have a weird obsession with the Game Show network as well here," confesses a student. "Buncha dorks. We know it and we own it!"

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Crystal Post
Campus Visit Coordinator

Address
Office of Admissions
PO Box 2900
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900

Phone
309-556-3031

Email
iwuadmit@iwu.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
The Ames Library
Hansen Student Center
Shirk Center for Athletics and Wellness
Center for Natural Science
The Dugout (snack bar and coffee shop)
State Farm Hall: IWU's new main classroom building opened for classes in the fall of 2013. The 48,700-square-foot classroom facility anchors the north end of the Robert S. Eckley Quadrangle. In addition to state-of-the-art classrooms, study areas and research spaces, the building is now home to the departments of Business Administration and Economics. Renovations to first-year housing and groundbreaking for the Petrick Idea Center are slated for summer 2023

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Upper Limits-World's largest indoor rock climbing
Constitution Trail- 15+ mile hike/bike
Downtown Bloomington night life - music
Trampoline Park, Iron Coyote
Uptown Normal, Eastland Mall & College Hills Shoppes
Bloomington-Normal is home to a plethora of dining options.

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center
M-Sat
M-F, 8:30-4:30; Sat 9-12
309-556-3031

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: M -F, 9:30,10:30,1,2,3; Saturday, 11
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
M - F, 8:30, 9:30,1,2; Sat,10

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Coach Directly

Advance Notice
2 weeks

Contact Email Address for Visit
iwuadmit@iwu.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Available

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Limitations
Available only to high school seniors

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Allegiant, American, Delta and Frontier provide jet service in and out of the Central Illinois Regional Airport, with direct service to Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, and Orlando. Taxi service and rental cars are available at the airport. Bus service is available from O'Hare and Midway Airports in Chicago to the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University, one mile north of IWU campus. Bloomington/Normal is on Amtrak's Chicago-to-St. Louis route. The Amtrak station is one mile north of IWU campus. Long-distance bus service is available through both Greyhound and Trailways Lines. Three major interstates converge in Bloomington/Normal, making arrival and departure by car particularly convenient.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From Chicago, IL (Approximately 130 miles) Take I-55 South to Veterans Parkway South (Business 55-exit #167). Proceed about 4 miles and turn right onto Illinois Route 9 West(Empire Street; a large shopping mall is at this intersection. Travel about 2 miles on Empire to Park Street and turn right into the IWU Sesquicentennial Gates to the campus. From Madison, WI (Approximately 200 miles) Take I-39/90 South to Rockford, IL and continue on I-39 South. Turn onto Route 51 South (Business Exit #2) and turn left at the end of the ramp. Proceed about 6 miles to the south to Emerson Street and turn left at the light (A Kroger store is at this intersection). Turn right onto Franklin Street through a campus gateway and then left on Beecher Street. The nearest visitor parking area is left off Beecher a short distance. From Indianapolis, IN (Approximately 165 miles, take I-74 West to Route 51 (North Business Exit # 135). Travel about 2 miles to Veterans Parkway North (Business 55- Chicago) exit. Proceed about 3.5 miles, turn left onto Illinois Route 9 West (Empire Street); a large shopping mall is at this intersection. Travel about two miles to Park Street and turn right into the IWU Sesquicentennial Gates to the campus. From Peoria, IL (Approximately 40 miles) Take I-74 East to I-55 North (Chicago Exit # 127). Follow to Route 51 South (Business Exit #165A). Proceed about 3 miles south to Emerson Street and turn left at the light. (A Kroger store is at this intersection.) Turn right onto Franklin Street (through a campus Gateway and then left on Beecher Street. The nearest visitor parking area is left off Beecher a short distance. From St. Louis, MO (Approximately 160 miles) Take I-55 North to Veterans Parkaway North (Business 55 Exit #157 B). Proceed about 6 miles and turn left onto Illiois Route 9 (Empire Street; a large shopping mall is at this intersection. Travel about 2 miles to Park Street and turn right into the IWU Sesquicentennial Gates to the campus.

Local Accommodations
There are nearly 30 hotels and motels in the Bloomington/Normal area, ranging from budget to full-service hotels. Closest to campus are the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center and Hyatt Place, both on Broadway Ave in uptown Normal. But not much farther away are Baymont Inn, Comfort Inn, Country Inn and Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, Doubletree, Eastland Suites, Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Parke Regency Hotel, Quality Inn, Radisson, Ramada, Signature Inn, and Super 8 which provide a wide range of costs and options.

Admissions

Applicants: 6,118
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average HS GPA: 3.80






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