IU vs. WUSTL

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington and Washington University in St Louis? 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
Washington University in St Louis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • WUSTL #21
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • WUSTL -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • WUSTL

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • WUSTL 49%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • WUSTL 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • WUSTL A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • WUSTL Very High
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • WUSTL $205

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • WUSTL 47%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • WUSTL High
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • WUSTL No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • WUSTL 55%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • WUSTL 19%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • WUSTL 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • WUSTL 7%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • WUSTL 4%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • WUSTL 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • WUSTL 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • WUSTL 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • WUSTL 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than WUSTL based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 16,357 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Washington University in St Louis is in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Washington University in St Louis 7:1.

IU vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or WUSTL ? 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 WUSTL ($17,270 vs. $22,408).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 36% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($13,984 vs. $21,854).
  • Washington University in St Louis is 441.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $53,646 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.1% higher at WUSTL than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $23,899 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than at Washington University in St Louis (73% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 530.1% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($66,080 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. WUSTL Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 250 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming WUSTL students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at IU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Washington University in St Louis 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; WUSTL - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WUSTL Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than WUSTL (12.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 46.7% at WUSTL .

IU vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU and WUSTL ? 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).

  • Washington University in St Louis's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from Washington University in St Louis earn a median of about $26,600 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,800 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington University in St Louis graduates have a $2,600 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($19,900 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, WUSTL graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($205 vs. $232).
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.