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Purdue Minnesota Michigan Illinois Ohio State Iowa Michigan State UW-Seattle Maryland UT Austin Miami Kentucky| Indiana University Bloomington | University of Wisconsin Madison | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
IU | Wisconsin | ||
| Location | Bloomington, IN | Madison, WI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 47,527 | 49,605 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #209 | #110 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | iub.edu | wisc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
IU | Wisconsin | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,312 | $9,644 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,004 | $39,042 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,380 | $13,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,282 | $14,216 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,857 | $11,350 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 49% |
Admission |
IU | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 54,279 | 63,505 | ||
| Admitted | 43,624 | 27,529 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.4% | 43.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.9% | 28.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1400 | 1360/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
IU | Wisconsin | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
IU | Wisconsin | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,200 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 72% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $230 |
Diversity |
IU | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
IU | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 48% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 44% | ||
Campus |
IU | Wisconsin | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than than IU based on total student enrollment (49,605 students vs. 47,527 students)
IU vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, IU or Wisconsin?
- Indiana University Bloomington is 6.9% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($10,312.00 vs. $9,644.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.1% higher at Wisconsin than Indiana University Bloomington ($39,042.00 vs. $39,004.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than IU ($14,216 vs. $16,282)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 0.9% lower than costs at University of Wisconsin Madison ($13,380 vs. $13,500)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than University of Wisconsin Madison (74% vs. 49%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 15.1% larger than aid received Indiana University Bloomington ($11,350 vs. $9,857)
IU vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, IU or Wisconsin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wisconsin or IU .
- The average SAT score at University of Wisconsin Madison (1300) is 101 points higher than at IU (1199)
- Incoming Wisconsin students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at IU (27)
- Accepted freshman Wisconsin students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at IU (3.74)
- IU has a higher acceptance rate (80.4%) than Wisconsin (43.3%)
IU vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, IU or Wisconsin? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Wisconsin and IU.
- The graduation rate at Wisconsin is higher than Indiana University Bloomington (82% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn on average $8,600 more per year than IU graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $56,200)
- University of Wisconsin Madison students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than IU graduates. ($22,250 vs. $22,500)
- Wisconsin graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than IU graduates. ($230 vs. $232)
- More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 72%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/