IWU vs. Kent State

Deciding between Indiana Wesleyan University Marion and Kent State University at Kent? 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
Kent State University at Kent

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Marion, IN
  • Kent State Kent, OH
  • Setting
  • IWU Distant Town
  • Kent State Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 2,204
  • Kent State 26,374
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Kent State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #239
  • Kent State #807
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU Wesleyan
  • Kent State -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Kent State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Kent State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $32,352
  • Kent State $13,232
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $32,352
  • Kent State $23,082
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $10,868
  • Kent State $13,794
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $23,402
  • Kent State $21,278
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $21,405
  • Kent State $10,076
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Kent State 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 3,761
  • Kent State 24,611
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,345
  • Kent State 21,248
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 88.9%
  • Kent State 86.3%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 17%
  • Kent State 20.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1070
  • Kent State 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 23
  • Kent State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.61
  • Kent State 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A-
  • Kent State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Moderate
  • Kent State Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU
  • Kent State
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 19/28
  • Kent State 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 960/1180
  • Kent State 1010/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Kent State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Kent State Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Kent State 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (56%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Kent State
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 70%
  • Kent State 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $54,300
  • Kent State $40,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 55%
  • Kent State 46%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $24,104
  • Kent State $25,825
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $249
  • Kent State $267
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 40%
  • Kent State 37%
  • % Women
  • IWU 60%
  • Kent State 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Low
  • Kent State Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Kent State No
  • % White
  • IWU 73%
  • Kent State 75%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 1%
  • Kent State 1%
  • % Black
  • IWU 19%
  • Kent State 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 4%
  • Kent State 3%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Kent State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Kent State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 2%
  • Kent State 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 0%
  • Kent State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 1%
  • Kent State 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 67%
  • Kent State 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 32%
  • Kent State 16%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana Wesleyan University Marion in Marion, IN with Kent State University at Kent in Kent, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kent State University at Kent is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (26,374 students vs. 2,204 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is located in Marion, IN (Distant Town setting); Kent State University at Kent is in Kent, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kent State University at Kent is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 12:1; Kent State University at Kent 20:1.

IWU vs. Kent State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Kent State? 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 Kent State University at Kent than IWU ($21,278 vs. $23,402).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion are 21.2% lower than at Kent State University at Kent ($10,868 vs. $13,794).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is 144.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kent State (about $19,120 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $13,232.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.2% higher at IWU than at Kent State University at Kent (about $9,270 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $23,082.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion than at Kent State University at Kent (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University Marion students is 112.4% larger than aid received by Kent State University at Kent students ($21,405 vs. $10,076).

IWU vs. Kent State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kent State University at Kent (1130) is 60 points higher than at IWU (1070).
  • Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 21 at Kent State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 960/1180; Kent State University at Kent 1010/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 19/28; Kent State University at Kent 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Kent State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kent State Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have the same average high school GPA (3.61) as students at Kent State (3.61).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Kent State (86.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17% at IWU vs. 20.3% at Kent State.

IWU vs. Kent State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Kent State? 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 Kent State University at Kent's (50%).
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University Marion earn a median of about $14,000 more per year than Kent State graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana Wesleyan University Marion graduates have a $1,721 lower median loan debt than Kent State graduates ($24,104 vs. $25,825).
  • Among borrowers, IWU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kent State graduates ($249 vs. $267).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 46%)

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.