Indiana Wesleyan University: Student Population Insights

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a private evangelical Christian university with a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,073 as of Fall 2023. Nearly 3,000 students are enrolled in traditional programs on the main campus in Marion, Indiana, and IWU-National & Global consists of 6,800 adult learners who study online or onsite at 15 education centres in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. In addition, 535 graduate students are currently enrolled at Wesley Seminary. The university offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees and 57 graduate degrees, including nine doctoral degrees.

Indiana Wesleyan University's undergraduate and graduate enrollment

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a private evangelical Christian university with a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,073 (fall 2023). The gender distribution of its undergraduate students is 37.9% male and 62.1% female. The university offers over 80 undergraduate degrees and has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1.

IWU's graduate programs include 57 degrees, nine of which are doctoral degrees. As of fall 2023, the university had 128 graduate students enrolled. The university's graduate programs include the Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Divinity degrees, along with a doctoral program in Organizational Leadership.

IWU is comprised of two main components: IWU-Marion and IWU-National & Global. IWU-Marion is the traditional, campus-based program with nearly 3,000 students enrolled. IWU-National & Global, on the other hand, caters to adult learners, offering online courses and onsite classes at 15 education centers across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. This program serves approximately 6,800 students, in addition to the 535 graduate students enrolled at Wesley Seminary.

In total, IWU has nearly 14,000 students, making it the largest private university in Indiana and the largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

The university's religious affiliation

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a private evangelical Christian university with headquarters in Marion, Indiana. It is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church, an evangelical Protestant denomination with over 500,000 members in more than 4,300 churches and missions worldwide. The Wesleyan Church has its roots in John Wesley's Methodism.

IWU is a Christ-centred academic community committed to liberal arts and professional education. It was founded in 1920 as Marion College and has since grown to become Indiana's largest private university. The university offers a unique educational experience, integrating faith and learning at all levels, from undergraduate to graduate programmes, and for all student communities, including residential, commuter, and distance learners.

IWU's Christ-centred approach is reflected in its mission statement: "Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered academic community committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship, and leadership." The university's faculty and staff are committed Christians who strive to provide a high-quality Christian education. They offer spiritual and academic mentoring and discipleship, helping students develop the knowledge, skills, and disposition to change the world for Jesus Christ.

IWU welcomes students from various Christian denominations and non-Christian faiths. While upholding the faith and message of The Wesleyan Church, the university fosters an inclusive environment for all students. The student body represents over 80 Christian denominations and 11 countries, contributing to a diverse and enriching community.

IWU's religious affiliation is evident in various aspects of campus life, including the Williams Prayer Chapel, which provides a peaceful space for personal prayer and reflection, and the Chapel-Auditorium, where chapel services are held three days a week. The university also has a Campus Police Department that operates with a Christ-centred philosophy, promoting kindness, teamwork, and integrity in their tasks.

Student demographics

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a private evangelical Christian university with a semester-based academic calendar. It is the largest private university in Indiana and the largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

IWU's total undergraduate enrollment as of Fall 2023 is 2,073, with a gender distribution of 37.9% male students and 62.1% female students. The university's total enrollment has grown from 2,000 students in 1987 to nearly 14,000 in 2017, including over 10,000 students taking courses online or at IWU National & Global's regional education centres.

The university offers more than 80 undergraduate degrees, including 87 bachelor's degrees, and 57 graduate degrees, including nine doctoral degrees. Its students represent over 80 Christian denominations and 11 countries.

IWU's campus size is 345 acres, and it has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1. The university is based in Marion, Indiana, and has 14 education centres across Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

Indiana Wesleyan University's ranking

Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a private, Christian university. It is the largest private college in Indiana based on enrolment, which totalled 2,201 in the fall of 2023, including graduate students. Of the 2,073 undergraduate students, 37.9% are male, and 62.1% are female.

In the 2025 edition of Best Colleges, IWU ranks #11 out of 165 in Regional Universities Midwest. It also ranks #114 in Nursing and #52 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. Niche ranks IWU as #597 in Best Colleges in America.

IWU is the largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. It is also one of the largest employers in Grant County.

The university's sports teams

Indiana Wesleyan University is a private institution founded in 1920. The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,073 students as of Fall 2023, with a gender distribution of 37.9% male and 62.1% female students. The university's athletic teams are known as the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats.

The Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats represent Indiana Wesleyan University in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Wildcats primarily compete in the Crossroads League, while the football team competes in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA), and the men's and women's swimming teams compete in the Mid-South Conference (MSC). The university has earned a national reputation for athletic excellence, dominating both the Crossroads League and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in recent years.

IWU competes in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports, including baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field (indoor and outdoor) for men, and basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball for women. Competitive cheer is also offered as a co-ed sport.

The university has won 31 national championship titles, including 2 NAIA national championships from the 2006-2007 women's basketball team, who went undefeated with a 38-0 record, and the 2012-2013 women's basketball team. The university has also won an additional 5 NAIA national championships in men's basketball (2014, 2016, and 2018), women's volleyball (2023 and 2024), and ITA NAIA National Tennis Doubles Title in 2015. The Wildcats have also achieved success in various conference championships, such as the Crossroads League and MCC, across multiple sports.

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