IU vs. OWU

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Ohio Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • OWU 1,525
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • OWU #386
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • OWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • OWU $53,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • OWU $53,888
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • OWU $14,684
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • OWU $23,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • OWU $45,481
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • OWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • OWU 6,144
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • OWU 3,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • OWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • OWU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • OWU 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • OWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • OWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • OWU Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • OWU 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • OWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • OWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • OWU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • OWU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • OWU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • OWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • OWU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • OWU 44%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • OWU 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • OWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • OWU No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • OWU 70%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • OWU 3%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • OWU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • OWU 5%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • OWU 5%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • OWU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • OWU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • OWU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • OWU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

IU vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than OWU ($17,270 vs. $23,006).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 4.8% lower than at Ohio Wesleyan University ($13,984 vs. $14,684).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 343.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $41,744 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at OWU than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $11,997 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at Indiana University Bloomington (100% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 333.7% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($45,481 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. OWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 60 points higher than at OWU (1230).
  • Incoming IU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at OWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; OWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than OWU (55.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 12.6% at OWU.

IU vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Ohio Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than OWU graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OWU graduates ($232 vs. $279).
  • More OWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 72%)

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.