At Iowa Wesleyan University (Mount Pleasant, IA), service learning is a tradition. In the past 40 years, our students have provided more than a million hours of community service. The Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement provides students an opportunity to express their values and ideals for social action through personal service and course-based learning.

Employers take notice of Iowa Wesleyan graduates. Our Field Experience program ensures that students receive at least 240 hours of experience related to their major. With guidance from academic advisors, students design internships that match their goals and test their skills. Our Career Services Center supports students through every phase of the career decision, from choosing a major and exploring career options to résumé advice and job search strategies.

850 undergraduate students can choose from among over 40 majors and programs offered in seven divisions: Business; Education; Fine Arts; Human Studies; Language and Literature; Nursing; and Science, Mathematics and Computer Science. The average class size is 14 students, with a 1:12 faculty/student ratio. 14 varsity athletic teams compete in the NAIA Midwest Collegiate Conference. More than 95% of the student body receives financial assistance.

About Iowa Wesleyan University

Iowa Wesleyan University Is One of The Oldest Four-Year Higher Education Institutions West of the Mississippi River. Founded in 1842, Iowa Wesleyan University is a fully accredited, coeducational liberal arts university. IW has a rich history of innovation in education; is a pioneer in the sciences; and at the forefront of educational opportunities for women. Iowa Wesleyan has been a leader in service-learning with students participating 100% in internships as a part of curriculum. Graduates include Dr. James Van Allen ’35, a space scientist who discovered the Earth’s radiation belts that now bear his name; and Dr. Peggy Whitson ‘81, NASA astronaut who has twice served as station commander for the International Space Station and holds several NASA records. In 1869, seven female Iowa Wesleyan students founded the P.E.O. Sisterhood on campus that boasts international membership. The academic programs at Iowa Wesleyan include undergraduate, graduate, and online learning. Service-learning is integrated into the curriculum, ensuring that all students connect classroom learning with service to others. Located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Iowa Wesleyan offers a variety of arts and cultural opportunities for southeast Iowa. Art shows, concerts, lectures, and plays take place throughout the year and most are open to the public at no charge. The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra is based on campus. Iowa Wesleyan athletics sponsors sixteen NCAA sports and boasts academic scholars. The Tigers compete in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) in all sports except football, which competes in the upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC).

Mission Statement

Iowa Wesleyan University is a transformational learning community whose passion is to educate, empower and inspire students to lead meaningful lives and careers.