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Bloomington, IL city hall 1 (cropped)Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Bloomington

Bloomington is home to Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University (1,576 students on campus) is inside the city, and Illinois State University (19,834) is 2.6 miles from the center, just over the line in Normal. About 8% of Bloomington’s residents are enrolled in college, above Illinois (6%).

Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois State UniversityHeartland Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Bloomington. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
25,137 students on campus
Nearest college
1.5 mi
Illinois Wesleyan University
Residents in college
8%
Above IL (6%)
Nearest community college
4.6 mi
Heartland · $5,550 tuition
Nearest public university
2.6 mi
Illinois State · $16,144 in-state
Median household income
$77K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Bloomington

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 4.6 milesIllinois Wesleyan University admits 39% of applicants; Illinois State University admits 88%. Together they have 25,137 students on campus.In-state price at Illinois StateLiving in Illinois, Illinois State University charges $16,144 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $28,210. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 4.6 miles awayHeartland Community College in Normal: tuition and fees $5,550 a year for Illinois residents.Students are 8% of residentsAbove Illinois (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Bloomington

One private college within 1.5 miles, one public college within 2.6 miles, and Heartland Community College 4.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miIllinois StateHeartlandIllinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington
University or collegeCommunity college
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,576 on campus · In Bloomington39%admitted$28knet price75%graduate$71kearningsIllinois State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 19,834 on campus · 2.6 mi · Normal88%admitted$19knet price65%graduate$62kearningsHeartland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,727 on campus · 4.6 mi · Normal$12knet price54%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $5,550 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Bloomington’s median household income ($77,384) falls.

Heartland Community College4.6 mi · Normal · sticker $16,727 · tuition $5,550$15,469a year
Illinois State University2.6 mi · Normal · sticker $34,309$23,865a year
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIn Bloomington · sticker $70,700$27,396a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Bloomington: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois StateHeartland
Illinois State University65% graduate$62k earnings$20k typical debt
Heartland Community College54% graduate$41k earnings$8k typical debt
Illinois Wesleyan University75% graduate$71k earnings$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Bloomington

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Illinois Wesleyan University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 29%Biology 14%Health professions 11%Psychology 8%Education 6%Social sciences 5%Everything else 27%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing46 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft33 graduates a year
$31k4 yrs out
Psychology, General25 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services23 graduates a year
$102k4 yrs out
Biology, General19 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
English Language and Literature, General12 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services12 graduates a year
$97k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Bloomington

Is Bloomington a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Bloomington residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Illinois (6). The largest campus in the city, Illinois Wesleyan University, has 1,576 students on campus.

What colleges are in Bloomington?

Illinois Wesleyan University is inside the city. Illinois State University is 2.6 miles from the center, in Normal, and Heartland Community College is 4.6 miles from the center, in Normal.

What is the closest community college to Bloomington, and what does it cost?

Heartland Community College in Normal, 4.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,550 a year for Illinois residents; the federal net price, $12,013, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Illinois State University cost if we live in Illinois?

Tuition and fees are $16,144 a year in-state and $28,210 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,568 (under $30,000 income) to $28,224 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bloomington. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →