Founded in 1860 by abolitionists, Wheaton is an evangelical Christian liberal arts college in the western suburbs of Chicago. Its best-known graduate is Billy Graham, and the Billy Graham Center still stands on campus. Faith runs through the whole place: students sign a Community Covenant and chapel is part of the week. The Conservatory of Music and the psychology and theology graduate programmes are especially well regarded.
Wheaton, Illinois, United States
Official website: wheaton.edu
1860
Private evangelical Christian college
Wheaton College Conservatory of Music
Western suburbs of Chicago
$42,000 – $46,000
Undergraduate tuition, per year
$13,000 – $16,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on wheaton.edu before you apply.
BA Psychology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
Bachelor of Music
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
BA Business and Economics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
MA Biblical and Theological Studies
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
PsyD Clinical Psychology
DoctorateDuration
60 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
Rigorous liberal arts taught from an evangelical Christian perspective.
A conservatory where music students train alongside liberal arts peers.
Graduate study in theology and clinical psychology.
Graduates work in ministry, missions, nonprofits, education and business.
Psychology graduates move into counselling and clinical careers after licensure.
Chicago's employers are a train ride away, and graduates can work in the US on OPT.
Undergrad
Early Action or Regular
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Campus is walking distance from downtown Wheaton, a tidy suburb with a Metra station on the Union Pacific West line. Blanchard Hall, the college's stone tower, is the landmark students give directions by.
Trains reach downtown Chicago in under an hour, so museums, concerts and internships are close. Winters are cold and grey, and the suburb itself is quiet at night.
Form I-20 issued by Wheaton College
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate Early Action usually closes on 1 November and Regular Decision in early January. Graduate programmes set their own deadlines, and the PsyD closes earlier in the winter.
Undergraduates start in late August. Most graduate programmes also begin in the fall, with a few summer starts.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from Wheaton College after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Psychology, music, business and economics, and biblical and theological studies are popular. Applicants write about their Christian faith as well as their academic record. Undergraduates should show IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 90; graduate programmes need a bachelor's degree.
Wheaton gives merit and need-based awards to international undergraduates, though funds are limited. Graduate students can ask about departmental scholarships.
