IU vs. CBU

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington and Christian Brothers 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.

Indiana University Bloomington

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • CBU Memphis, TN
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • CBU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • CBU 1,772
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • CBU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • CBU #525
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • CBU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • CBU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • CBU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • CBU $38,420
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • CBU $38,420
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • CBU $11,055
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • CBU $16,754
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • CBU $31,234
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • CBU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • CBU 1,504
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • CBU 1,304
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • CBU 86.7%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • CBU 13.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • CBU 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • CBU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • CBU 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • CBU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • CBU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • CBU
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • CBU 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • CBU 1020/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • CBU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • CBU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • CBU 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • CBU
    • Business (39%)
    • Psychology (18%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • CBU 52%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • CBU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • CBU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • CBU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • CBU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • CBU 48%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • CBU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • CBU High
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • CBU No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • CBU 43%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • CBU 5%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • CBU 29%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • CBU 6%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • CBU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • CBU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • CBU 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • CBU 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • CBU 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • CBU 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • CBU 26%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than CBU based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 1,772 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Christian Brothers University is in Memphis, TN (Large City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Christian Brothers University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Christian Brothers University 9:1.

IU vs. CBU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or CBU? 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 Christian Brothers University than IU ($16,754 vs. $17,270).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christian Brothers University are 20.9% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($11,055 vs. $13,984).
  • Christian Brothers University is 216.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $26,276 more per year; $38,420.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at IU than at Christian Brothers University (about $3,471 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $38,420.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Christian Brothers University than at Indiana University Bloomington (100% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Christian Brothers University students is 197.8% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($31,234 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. CBU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU or CBU? 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 CBU and IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 90 points higher than at CBU (1200).
  • Incoming IU students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 21 at CBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Christian Brothers University 1020/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Christian Brothers University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; CBU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at CBU (3.67).
  • CBU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than IU (78.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 13.4% at CBU.

IU vs. CBU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU and CBU? 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).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Christian Brothers University's (52%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than CBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than CBU graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CBU graduates ($232 vs. $279).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CBU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 53%)

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.