IWU vs. BSU

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Ball State 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.

Illinois Wesleyan University
Ball State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • BSU Muncie, IN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • BSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • BSU 21,089
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • BSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • BSU #630
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • BSU -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • BSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • BSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • BSU $11,082
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • BSU $29,630
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • BSU $12,334
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • BSU $13,599
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • BSU $13,218
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • BSU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • BSU 21,093
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • BSU 18,034
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • BSU 85.5%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • BSU 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • BSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • BSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • BSU 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • BSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • BSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • BSU
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • BSU 20/24
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • BSU 1080/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • BSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • BSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • BSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • BSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • BSU 55%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • BSU $42,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • BSU 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • BSU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • BSU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • BSU 35%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • BSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • BSU Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • BSU No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • BSU 81%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • BSU 1%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • BSU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • BSU 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • BSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • BSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • BSU 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • BSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • BSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • BSU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • BSU 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL with Ball State University in Muncie, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ball State University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Ball State University is in Muncie, IN (Small City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Ball State University 14:1.

IWU vs. BSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or BSU? 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 Ball State University than IWU ($13,599 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 7.7% lower than at Illinois Wesleyan University ($12,334 vs. $13,370).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 420.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $46,622 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $11,082.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 94.7% higher at IWU than at Ball State University (about $28,074 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $29,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Ball State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 219.1% larger than aid received by Ball State University students ($42,181 vs. $13,218).

IWU vs. BSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU or BSU? 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 BSU and IWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 60 points higher than at BSU (1170).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 22 at BSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Ball State University 1080/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Ball State University 20/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; BSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at BSU (3.52).
  • BSU has a higher acceptance rate (85.5%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 20.4% at BSU.

IWU vs. BSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and BSU? 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).

  • Illinois Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Ball State University's (55%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $18,000 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ball State University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, BSU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BSU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 63%)

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.