IWU vs. BLC

Deciding between Indiana Wesleyan University Marion and Bethany Lutheran College? 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 Wesleyan University Marion

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Marion, IN
  • BLC Mankato, MN
  • Setting
  • IWU Distant Town
  • BLC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 2,204
  • BLC 899
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • BLC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #239
  • BLC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU Wesleyan
  • BLC Other (none of the above)
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • BLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • BLC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $32,352
  • BLC $31,360
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $32,352
  • BLC $31,360
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $10,868
  • BLC $8,620
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $23,402
  • BLC $21,127
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $21,405
  • BLC $19,865
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • BLC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 3,761
  • BLC 1,319
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,345
  • BLC 514
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 88.9%
  • BLC 39%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 17%
  • BLC 34%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1070
  • BLC 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 23
  • BLC 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.61
  • BLC 3.51
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A-
  • BLC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Moderate
  • BLC Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU
  • BLC High
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 19/28
  • BLC 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 960/1180
  • BLC 1040/1180
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • BLC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • BLC Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • BLC 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (56%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • BLC
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 70%
  • BLC 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $54,300
  • BLC $37,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 55%
  • BLC 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $24,104
  • BLC $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $249
  • BLC $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 40%
  • BLC 45%
  • % Women
  • IWU 60%
  • BLC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Low
  • BLC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • BLC No
  • % White
  • IWU 73%
  • BLC 88%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 1%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Black
  • IWU 19%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 4%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • BLC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 2%
  • BLC 1%
  • % International
  • IWU 0%
  • BLC 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 1%
  • BLC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 67%
  • BLC 59%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 32%
  • BLC 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana Wesleyan University Marion in Marion, IN with Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is larger than BLC based on total student enrollment (2,204 students vs. 899 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is located in Marion, IN (Distant Town setting); Bethany Lutheran College is in Mankato, MN (Remote Town setting).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bethany Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 12:1; Bethany Lutheran College 12:1.

IWU vs. BLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or BLC? 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 Bethany Lutheran College than IWU ($21,127 vs. $23,402).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethany Lutheran College are 20.7% lower than at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion ($8,620 vs. $10,868).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than BLC (about $992 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $31,360.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at IWU than at Bethany Lutheran College (about $992 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $31,360.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion as at Bethany Lutheran College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University Marion students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Bethany Lutheran College students ($21,405 vs. $19,865).

IWU vs. BLC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Bethany Lutheran College (1110) is 40 points higher than at IWU (1070).
  • Incoming IWU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 23) as students at BLC (23).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 960/1180; Bethany Lutheran College 1040/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 19/28; Bethany Lutheran College 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; BLC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BLC Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at BLC (3.51).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than BLC (39%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17% at IWU vs. 34% at BLC.

IWU vs. BLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and BLC? 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 Wesleyan University Marion's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Bethany Lutheran College's (53%).
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University Marion earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than BLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bethany Lutheran College graduates have a $854 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,104).
  • Among borrowers, BLC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($240 vs. $249).
  • More BLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.