IU vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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
University of Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with University of Wisconsin Madison in Madison, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than IU based on total student enrollment (51,044 students vs. 48,424 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); University of Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

IU vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or Wisconsin? 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 University of Wisconsin Madison than IU ($14,235 vs. $17,270).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 1% lower than at University of Wisconsin Madison ($13,984 vs. $14,124).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wisconsin (about $541 more per year; $12,144.00 vs. $11,603.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Wisconsin than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $212 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than at University of Wisconsin Madison (73% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 69.2% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($17,741 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 160 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming Wisconsin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at IU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (78.2%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

IU vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU and Wisconsin? 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).

  • University of Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Madison graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($22,250 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Wisconsin graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.