Butler vs. Earlham

Deciding between Butler University and Earlham College? 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.

Butler University
Earlham College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Earlham Richmond, IN
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Earlham Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Earlham 753
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Earlham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Earlham
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • Earlham Friends
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • Earlham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • Earlham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Earlham $13,985
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Earlham $27,107
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Earlham $40,618
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Earlham 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Earlham 2,075
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Earlham 1,517
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Earlham 73.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Earlham 13.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Earlham 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Earlham 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Earlham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • Earlham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Earlham Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • Earlham Low
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • Earlham 24/33
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • Earlham 1110/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Earlham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Earlham Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Earlham 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Earlham
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Earlham 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Earlham $39,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Earlham 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Earlham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • Earlham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • Earlham 47%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • Earlham 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • Earlham High
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • Earlham No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • Earlham 51%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • Earlham 5%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • Earlham 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • Earlham 6%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • Earlham 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • Earlham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • Earlham 0%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • Earlham 22%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • Earlham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • Earlham 39%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • Earlham 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Earlham College in Richmond, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Butler University is larger than Earlham based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Earlham College is in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; Earlham College 7:1.

Butler vs. Earlham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler or Earlham? 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 Earlham College than Butler ($27,107 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Earlham College are 14.9% lower than at Butler University ($13,985 vs. $16,430).
  • Earlham College is 13.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Butler (about $6,370 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at Earlham than at Butler University (about $6,370 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College than at Butler University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 46.2% larger than aid received by Butler University students ($40,618 vs. $27,790).

Butler vs. Earlham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Butler or Earlham? 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 Earlham and Butler.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Butler University (1260) is 60 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
  • Incoming Butler students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at Earlham (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; Earlham College 1110/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; Earlham College 24/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; Earlham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; Earlham Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Earlham (3.67).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than Earlham (73.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 13.9% at Earlham.

Butler vs. Earlham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler and Earlham? 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).

  • Butler University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Earlham College's (66%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $29,300 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Earlham College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Earlham graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Earlham students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 75%)

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.