Butler vs. Lawrence

Deciding between Butler University and Lawrence University? 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
Lawrence University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Lawrence #202
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • Lawrence -
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • Lawrence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Lawrence 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Lawrence 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • Lawrence A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Lawrence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • Lawrence $282

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • Lawrence 48%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • Lawrence Medium
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • Lawrence No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • Lawrence 70%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • Lawrence 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • Lawrence 7%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • Lawrence 4%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • Lawrence 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • Lawrence 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • Lawrence 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • Lawrence 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Butler University is larger than Lawrence based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Lawrence University is in Appleton, WI (Small City setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; Lawrence University 7:1.

Butler vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence University than Butler ($27,161 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 26% lower than at Butler University ($12,165 vs. $16,430).
  • Lawrence University is 19.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Butler (about $9,422 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.8% higher at Lawrence than at Butler University (about $9,422 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lawrence University than at Butler University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 53.6% larger than aid received by Butler University students ($42,688 vs. $27,790).

Butler vs. Lawrence Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lawrence University (1310) is 50 points higher than at Butler (1260).
  • Incoming Butler students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Lawrence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; Lawrence University 1200/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; Lawrence University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; Lawrence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Lawrence (3.52).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than Lawrence (63.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 16.8% at Lawrence.

Butler vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler and Lawrence? 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).

  • Lawrence University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Butler University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $22,800 more per year than Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Butler University graduates have a $350 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, Butler graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($279 vs. $282).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 76%)

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.