Offering liberal arts education deeply-rooted with Christian values and beliefs, Wheaton College provides its students with the opportunities to not only think well – but live well. Wheaton College is known as one of the top distinctively Christian liberal arts colleges in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Kiplinger’s, and Fiske (more on rankings below) and carries a rich history dating back over 150 years. Let’s take a closer look at this accredited institution and what makes this college a great choice for higher education when you live at only a short 10-minute walk from campus at our Wheaton apartments.
A brief history
Wheaton College got its start when Warren L. Wheaton donated a parcel of land to the struggling Illinois Institute. The new school president, Jonathan Blanchard, proposed to rename the school to Wheaton College in 1860 in honor of Mr. Wheaton’s generous donation. Under the new name, Blanchard changed the focus of the school to commit itself to a combination of both intellectual growth as well as Christian faith. Almost immediately after changing its course, the college experienced the change and trauma of the Civil War. Sixty-seven students were enlistees and not all returned.
Fast forward to the present, with six presidents in between, Dr. Philip Graham Ryken was appointed as Wheaton’s 8th president in 2010 and still runs the college today. His priorities for Wheaton college include “promoting liberal arts excellence, globalizing a Wheaton education, deepening ethnic diversity, and enhancing music and the arts.”
School stats
Below are a few stats to give you a better understanding of Wheaton College as well as the students and academic programs.
- There are approximately 2,400 undergraduate students and 500 graduate students
- 56% female and 44% male degree-seeking undergraduates
- All 50 states and 90+ countries are represented in the student body
- There are 222 full-time and 130 part-time faculty members
- 93% of full-time faculty hold earned doctorates
- There is a 10:1 student-faculty ratio
- 43 undergraduate majors offered (most popular include Applied Health Science, Business/Economics, Communication, English, and Psychology)
- 18 graduate and Ph.D. programs offered
- Average undergraduate tuition is $36,420 with an additional $10,180 for room and board
- Approximately 88% of students live on campus
Wheaton College rankings
The humble Wheaton College says that they do not shape their academics or any other co-curricular programs with rankings in mind, however, they appreciate the third-party endorsement they provide. Here are some of the impressive rankings the college has earned for 2019 and 2020:
- Kiplinger’s 2019: #45 in Best U.S. College Values and #25 in Best Values in Liberal Arts Colleges
- U.S. News and World Report 2020: #58 out of 223 National Liberal Arts Colleges, #78 out of 103 in Best Value Schools, and #90 out of 215 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
- MONEY Magazine: #192 out of 744 Best Colleges for Your Money 2019
- Forbes 2019: #19 out of 25 in the Midwest and #122 out of 650 in America’s Top Colleges
Wheaton College Museums and Collections
Wheaton College is clearly so much more than just an educational institution. Residents at our Wheaton apartments who are interested in biblical and theological studies will be happy to know that the college has numerous museums and collections on campus that are open to the public.
Spend an afternoon learning about the biblical periods of Joseph (Genesis 37) and Elisha (2 Kings 6) through findings from the city of Dothan, Palestine at Wheaton College’s Archaeology Museum. Two tombs were uncovered that were in use during the early Iron Age (c 1180-980 BC). Inside the tombs were ceramic and metal artifacts that accompanied the burial of approximately 300 individuals. Most of these artifacts are on display at the museum. Museum visits are by appointment only. If you’re interested, contact the school’s Office Coordinator for the Biblical and Theological Studies Department at 630-752-5054.
The Billy Graham Center Museum is a place where you can explore American evangelism history over more than 500 years. The museum encourages visitors to reflect on their faith and become inspired by visual and performance art. The sacred art gallery features two to four exhibits per year – check their website for details.
“The Marion E. Wade Center promotes cultural engagement and spiritual formation by offering a collection of resources available nowhere else in the world,” it says on the center’s website. The Marion E. Wade Center features work by seven British Christian authors: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dorothy L. Sayers, George MacDonald, G.K. Chesterton, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams. The Wade Center is open to the general public and is free admission.
More than 1,400 students visit the Buswell Memorial Library every single day. The school’s library has physical collections that are impressive and extensive – offering students and faculty to nearly any research- and Christian-based item desired. The library is also responsible for administering Wheaton College’s Shakespeare Society where a small group of faculty explores the Christian dimensions of the works of William Shakespeare.
Walk to campus from our luxury apartments in Wheaton
Our Wheaton apartments are located just a half a mile from this beautiful, 80-acre campus so say goodbye to long commutes and bumper-to-bumper traffic. Whether you’re a student or faculty, Wheaton 121 is the perfection option for those that spend time at the college. Book a tour of luxury apartments in Wheaton today.