Butler vs. MSOE

Deciding between Butler University and Milwaukee School of Engineering? 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
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • MSOE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • MSOE Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Butler University is larger than MSOE based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Milwaukee School of Engineering is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; Milwaukee School of Engineering 12:1.

Butler vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler or MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering than Butler ($25,669 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee School of Engineering are 14.9% lower than at Butler University ($13,984 vs. $16,430).
  • Milwaukee School of Engineering is 6.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Butler (about $2,920 more per year; $50,480.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.1% higher at MSOE than at Butler University (about $2,920 more per year; $50,480.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee School of Engineering than at Butler University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students is 33.1% larger than aid received by Butler University students ($36,997 vs. $27,790).

Butler vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Milwaukee School of Engineering (1280) is 20 points higher than at Butler (1260).
  • Incoming Butler students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at MSOE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; MSOE - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at MSOE (3.65).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than MSOE (58.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

Butler vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler and MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering's (57%).
  • Graduates from Milwaukee School of Engineering earn a median of about $500 more per year than Butler graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,900 vs. $68,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Butler graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Butler graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSOE students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 83%)

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.