IWU vs. Purdue

Deciding between Indiana Wesleyan University Marion and Purdue University Main Campus? 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
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Marion, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • IWU Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 2,204
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #239
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU Wesleyan
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $32,352
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $32,352
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $10,868
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $23,402
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $21,405
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 3,761
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,345
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 88.9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 17%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1070
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 23
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.61
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Moderate
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 19/28
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 960/1180
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (56%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 70%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $54,300
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 55%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $24,104
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $249
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 40%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • IWU 60%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • IWU 73%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 1%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • IWU 19%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 2%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • IWU 0%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 67%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 32%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana Wesleyan University Marion in Marion, IN with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,204 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is located in Marion, IN (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 12:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

IWU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus than IWU ($13,722 vs. $23,402).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion are 15.2% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($10,868 vs. $12,820).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is 223.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $22,360 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at IWU than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $3,558 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University Marion students is 89.5% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($21,405 vs. $11,294).

IWU vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 270 points higher than at IWU (1070).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 23 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 960/1180; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 19/28; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at IWU (3.61).
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17% at IWU vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

IWU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU and Purdue? 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 Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than IWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $2,604 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,104).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($222 vs. $249).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IWU students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.