IWU vs. GVSU

Should I go to Indiana Wesleyan University or Grand Valley State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IWU or GVSU 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. Grand Valley State University comparison
Indiana Wesleyan University Grand Valley State University College 3 College 4
Indiana Wesleyan University Grand Valley State University
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Overview

IWU GVSU
Location Marion, IN Allendale, MI
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,603 21,648
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #299 #583
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website indwes.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU GVSU
Tuition (In State) $29,684 $13,952
Tuition (Out of State) $29,684 $19,856
Room & Board $10,050 $10,140
Avg Net Price $21,755 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $20,194 $8,811
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

IWU GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,946 17,123
Admitted 3,422 15,474
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 90.4%
Enrolled % 16.9% 25%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 21/27
SAT Range 1000/1190 960/1210
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

IWU GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (56%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

IWU GVSU
Graduation Rate 70% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,104 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $249 $258

Diversity

IWU GVSU
% Men 34% 38%
% Women 66% 62%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 83%
% Black 19% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

IWU GVSU
% In-State 60% 91%
% Out-of-State 39% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 2,603 students)

IWU vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or GVSU?

  • Indiana Wesleyan University is 112.8% more expensive to attend than GVSU for in-state tuition ($29,684.00 vs. $13,952.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.5% higher at IWU than Grand Valley State University ($29,684.00 vs. $19,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grand Valley State University than IWU ($17,105 vs. $21,755)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University are 0.9% lower than costs at Grand Valley State University ($10,050 vs. $10,140)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University than Grand Valley State University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University students is 129.2% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($20,194 vs. $8,811)

IWU vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 4 points higher than at IWU (1086)
  • Incoming IWU students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at GVSU (24)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at IWU (3.61)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than IWU (86.7%)

IWU vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Grand Valley State University (70% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University earn on average $9,700 more per year than GVSU graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $44,600)
  • Indiana Wesleyan University students graduate with a $896 lower median federal student loan debt than GVSU graduates. ($24,104 vs. $25,000)
  • IWU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than GVSU graduates. ($249 vs. $258)
  • More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 55%)

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