IU vs. IWU

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington and Indiana Wesleyan University Marion? 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
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • IWU Marion, IN
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • IWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • IWU 2,204
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • IWU #239
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • IWU Wesleyan
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • IWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • IWU $32,352
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • IWU $32,352
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • IWU $10,868
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • IWU $23,402
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • IWU $21,405
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • IWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • IWU 3,761
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • IWU 3,345
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • IWU 88.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • IWU 17%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • IWU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • IWU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • IWU 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • IWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • IWU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • IWU
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • IWU 19/28
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • IWU 960/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • IWU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • IWU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • IWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • IWU
    • Business (56%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • IWU 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • IWU $54,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • IWU 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • IWU $24,104
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • IWU $249

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • IWU 40%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • IWU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • IWU Low
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • IWU No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • IWU 73%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • IWU 1%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • IWU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • IWU 4%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • IWU 2%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • IWU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • IWU 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • IWU 32%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Indiana Wesleyan University Marion in Marion, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 2,204 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is in Marion, IN (Distant Town setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 12:1.

IU vs. IWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or IWU? 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 Indiana University Bloomington than IWU ($17,270 vs. $23,402).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion are 22.3% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($10,868 vs. $13,984).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is 166.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $20,208 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.5% higher at IU than at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion (about $9,539 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $32,352.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion than at Indiana University Bloomington (100% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University Marion students is 104.1% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($21,405 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. IWU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 220 points higher than at IWU (1070).
  • Incoming IU students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 23 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 960/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 19/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; IWU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at IWU (3.61).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than IU (78.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 17% at IWU.

IU vs. IWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU and IWU? 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 Indiana Wesleyan University Marion's (70%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than IWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $1,604 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($22,500 vs. $24,104).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($232 vs. $249).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 55%)

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.