Butler vs. OWU

Deciding between Butler University and Ohio Wesleyan 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
Ohio Wesleyan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • OWU 1,525
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • OWU #386
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • OWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • OWU $53,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • OWU $53,888
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • OWU $14,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • OWU $23,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • OWU $45,481
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • OWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • OWU 6,144
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • OWU 3,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • OWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • OWU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • OWU 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • OWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • OWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • OWU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • OWU 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • OWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • OWU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • OWU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • OWU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • OWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • OWU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • OWU 44%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • OWU 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • OWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • OWU No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • OWU 70%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • OWU 3%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • OWU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • OWU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • OWU 5%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • OWU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • OWU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • OWU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • OWU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Butler University is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Ohio Wesleyan University is in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; Ohio Wesleyan University 12:1.

Butler vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler or OWU? 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 Ohio Wesleyan University than Butler ($23,006 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Wesleyan University are 10.6% lower than at Butler University ($14,684 vs. $16,430).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Butler (about $6,328 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.3% higher at OWU than at Butler University (about $6,328 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at Butler University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 63.7% larger than aid received by Butler University students ($45,481 vs. $27,790).

Butler vs. OWU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Butler University (1260) is 30 points higher than at OWU (1230).
  • Incoming Butler students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at OWU (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; OWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than OWU (55.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 12.6% at OWU.

Butler vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler and OWU? 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 Ohio Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $18,800 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio Wesleyan University and Butler graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Ohio Wesleyan University 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 OWU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

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.