IWU vs. Butler

Deciding between Illinois Wesleyan University and Butler 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
Butler University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Setting
  • IWU Small City
  • Butler Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 1,582
  • Butler 5,746
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #157
  • Butler #209
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU -
  • Butler -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Butler Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Butler

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Butler $47,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $57,704
  • Butler $47,560
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $13,370
  • Butler $16,430
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $28,644
  • Butler $38,438
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $42,181
  • Butler $27,790
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Butler 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 9,558
  • Butler 9,471
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,757
  • Butler 8,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1230
  • Butler 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 27
  • Butler 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.86
  • Butler 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A
  • Butler A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Difficult
  • Butler Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU High
  • Butler
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 25/30
  • Butler 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Butler Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Butler 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 82%
  • Butler 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $60,500
  • Butler $68,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 87%
  • Butler 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $27,000
  • Butler $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $279
  • Butler $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 50%
  • Butler 38%
  • % Women
  • IWU 50%
  • Butler 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Medium
  • Butler Very Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Butler No
  • % White
  • IWU 71%
  • Butler 82%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 4%
  • Butler 3%
  • % Black
  • IWU 4%
  • Butler 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 7%
  • Butler 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Butler 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Butler 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 3%
  • Butler 2%
  • % International
  • IWU 9%
  • Butler 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 2%
  • Butler 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 80%
  • Butler 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 15%
  • Butler 48%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Butler University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Wesleyan University is located in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting); Butler University is in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1; Butler University 11:1.

IWU vs. Butler Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Butler? 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 Illinois Wesleyan University than Butler ($28,644 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 18.6% lower than at Butler University ($13,370 vs. $16,430).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 21.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Butler (about $10,144 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.3% higher at IWU than at Butler University (about $10,144 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at Butler University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 51.8% larger than aid received by Butler University students ($42,181 vs. $27,790).

IWU vs. Butler Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Butler University (1260) is 30 points higher than at IWU (1230).
  • Incoming Butler students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340; Butler University 1160/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30; Butler University 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Butler - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at IWU (3.86).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at IWU vs. 12.9% at Butler.

IWU vs. Butler Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Butler? 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 Butler University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than IWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $60,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Butler University and IWU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Butler University and IWU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Butler students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

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.