Auburn vs. IU

Deciding between Auburn University and Indiana University Bloomington? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Auburn University
Indiana University Bloomington

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Auburn Auburn, AL
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Setting
  • Auburn Small City
  • IU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Auburn 34,145
  • IU 48,424
  • Type
  • Auburn Public 4 Year
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Auburn #301
  • IU #207
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Auburn -
  • IU -
  • Status
  • Auburn Non-profit
  • IU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Auburn
  • IU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Auburn $12,890
  • IU $12,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Auburn $34,922
  • IU $41,891
  • Room & Board
  • Auburn $16,626
  • IU $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • Auburn $25,242
  • IU $17,270
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Auburn $10,872
  • IU $10,487
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Auburn 80%
  • IU 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Auburn 55,056
  • IU 67,658
  • Admitted
  • Auburn 25,284
  • IU 52,918
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Auburn 45.9%
  • IU 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Auburn 24.1%
  • IU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Auburn 1330
  • IU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Auburn 28
  • IU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Auburn 3.97
  • IU 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Auburn A
  • IU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Auburn Very High
  • IU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Auburn Low
  • IU
  • ACT Range
  • Auburn 26/31
  • IU 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Auburn 1260/1390
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Auburn Required
  • IU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Auburn Feb 1, 2027
  • IU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Auburn 21:1
  • IU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Auburn
    • Business (22%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Auburn 66%
  • IU 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Auburn $54,100
  • IU $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Auburn 73%
  • IU 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Auburn $21,500
  • IU $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Auburn $222
  • IU $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Auburn 49%
  • IU 50%
  • % Women
  • Auburn 51%
  • IU 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Auburn Very Low
  • IU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Auburn No
  • IU No
  • % White
  • Auburn 84%
  • IU 71%
  • % Asian
  • Auburn 2%
  • IU 4%
  • % Black
  • Auburn 7%
  • IU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Auburn 3%
  • IU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Auburn 1%
  • IU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Auburn 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Auburn 1%
  • IU 4%
  • % International
  • Auburn 1%
  • IU 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Auburn 1%
  • IU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Auburn 53%
  • IU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Auburn 46%
  • IU 41%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Auburn Yes
  • IU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Auburn No
  • IU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Auburn Yes
  • IU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Auburn No
  • IU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Auburn No
  • IU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Auburn University in Auburn, AL with Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than Auburn based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 34,145 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Auburn University is located in Auburn, AL (Small City setting); Indiana University Bloomington is in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting).
  • Auburn University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Auburn University 21:1; Indiana University Bloomington 18:1.

Auburn vs. IU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Auburn or IU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Bloomington than Auburn ($17,270 vs. $25,242).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 15.9% lower than at Auburn University ($13,984 vs. $16,626).
  • Auburn University is 6.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $746 more per year; $12,890.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at IU than at Auburn University (about $6,969 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $34,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Auburn University than at Indiana University Bloomington (80% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Auburn University students is 3.7% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($10,872 vs. $10,487).

Auburn vs. IU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Auburn or IU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between IU and Auburn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Auburn University (1330) is 40 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming IU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Auburn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 1260/1390; Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 26/31; Indiana University Bloomington 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Auburn - Required; IU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Auburn Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Auburn students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Auburn (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.1% at Auburn vs. 18.2% at IU.

Auburn vs. IU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Auburn and IU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Auburn University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Auburn graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Auburn University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Auburn graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($222 vs. $232).
  • More Auburn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.