Butler vs. IU

Deciding between Butler 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.

Butler University
Indiana University Bloomington

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • IU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • IU 48,424
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • IU #207
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • IU -
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • IU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • IU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • IU $12,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • IU $41,891
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • IU $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • IU $17,270
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • IU $10,487
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • IU 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • IU 67,658
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • IU 52,918
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • IU 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • IU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • IU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • IU 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • IU 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • IU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • IU Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • IU
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • IU 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • IU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • IU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • IU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • IU 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • IU $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • IU 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • IU $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • IU $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • IU 50%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • IU 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • IU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • IU No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • IU 71%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • IU 4%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • IU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • IU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • IU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • IU 4%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • IU 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • IU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • IU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • IU 41%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN 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 Butler based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 5,746 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Indiana University Bloomington is in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; Indiana University Bloomington 18:1.

Butler vs. IU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler 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 Butler ($17,270 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 14.9% lower than at Butler University ($13,984 vs. $16,430).
  • Butler University is 291.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $35,416 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at Butler than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $5,669 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Butler University than at Indiana University Bloomington (97% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Butler University students is 165% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($27,790 vs. $10,487).

Butler vs. IU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Butler 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 Butler.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 30 points higher than at Butler (1260).
  • Incoming IU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Butler).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; Indiana University Bloomington 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; IU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at IU (3.74).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than IU (78.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 18.2% at IU.

Butler vs. IU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler 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).

  • The graduation rate at Butler is the same as at Indiana University Bloomington (72% vs. 72%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($232 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.