IWU vs. BGSU

Should I go to Indiana Wesleyan University or Bowling Green State University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IWU or BGSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Indiana Wesleyan University vs. Bowling Green State University Main Campus comparison
Indiana Wesleyan University Bowling Green State University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Indiana Wesleyan University Bowling Green State University Main Campus
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Overview

 IWU BGSU
Location Marion, IN Bowling Green, OH
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 2,603 16,920
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #299 #728
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website indwes.edu bgsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 IWU BGSU
Tuition (In State) $29,684 $11,272
Tuition (Out of State) $29,684 $19,845
Room & Board $10,050 $12,584
Avg Net Price $21,755 $20,485
Avg Grant Aid $20,194 $8,898
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 95%

Admission

 IWU BGSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,946 17,447
Admitted 3,422 13,723
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 78.7%
Enrolled % 16.9% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 20/25
SAT Range 1000/1190 990/1200
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 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

 IWU BGSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (56%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 IWU BGSU
Graduation Rate 70% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,104 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $249 $268

Diversity

 IWU BGSU
% Men 34% 42%
% Women 66% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 78%
% Black 19% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

 IWU BGSU
% In-State 60% 88%
% Out-of-State 39% 11%

Campus

 IWU BGSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Bowling Green State University Main Campus is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (16,920 students vs. 2,603 students)

IWU vs. BGSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or BGSU?

  • Indiana Wesleyan University is 163.3% more expensive to attend than BGSU for in-state tuition ($29,684.00 vs. $11,272.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.6% higher at IWU than Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($29,684.00 vs. $19,845.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowling Green State University Main Campus than IWU ($20,485 vs. $21,755)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University are 25.2% lower than costs at Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($10,050 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University students is 126.9% larger than aid received Bowling Green State University Main Campus ($20,194 vs. $8,898)

IWU vs. BGSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU or BGSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BGSU or IWU .

  • The average SAT score at Indiana Wesleyan University (1086) is 74 points higher than at BGSU (1012)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at BGSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at BGSU (3.6)
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than BGSU (78.7%)

IWU vs. BGSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IWU or BGSU? 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 BGSU and IWU.

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Bowling Green State University Main Campus (70% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University earn on average $10,700 more per year than BGSU graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $43,600)
  • Indiana Wesleyan University students graduate with a $1,896 lower median federal student loan debt than BGSU graduates. ($24,104 vs. $26,000)
  • IWU graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than BGSU graduates. ($249 vs. $268)
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BGSU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/