IWU vs. WKU

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

 IWU WKU
Location Marion, IN Bowling Green, KY
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 2,207 16,759
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #968
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website indwes.edu wku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 IWU WKU
Tuition (In State) $31,168 $11,436
Tuition (Out of State) $31,168 $27,000
Room & Board $10,554 $12,043
Avg Net Price $23,364 $12,054
Avg Grant Aid $19,595 $10,906
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 IWU WKU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,035 7,720
Admitted 2,495 7,492
Acceptance Rate 82.2% 97%
Enrolled % 20% 37.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/28 16/20
SAT Range 970/1180 820/1010
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 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 IWU WKU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (56%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

 IWU WKU
Graduation Rate 70% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,104 $24,250
Median Loan Payment $249 $250

Diversity

 IWU WKU
% Men 2% 4%
% Women 4% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 76%
% Black 19% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 0% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 IWU WKU
% In-State 60% 70%
% Out-of-State 39% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Kentucky University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (16,759 students vs. 2,207 students)

IWU vs. WKU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or WKU?

  • Indiana Wesleyan University is 172.5% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($31,168.00 vs. $11,436.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.4% higher at IWU than Western Kentucky University ($31,168.00 vs. $27,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than IWU ($12,054 vs. $23,364)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University are 14.1% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($10,554 vs. $12,043)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University than Western Kentucky University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University students is 79.7% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($19,595 vs. $10,906)

IWU vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Indiana Wesleyan University (1086) is 39 points higher than at WKU (1047)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WKU (23)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at WKU (3.42)
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than IWU (82.2%)

IWU vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Western Kentucky University (70% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University earn on average $17,200 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $37,100)
  • Indiana Wesleyan University students graduate with a $146 lower median federal student loan debt than WKU graduates. ($24,104 vs. $24,250)
  • IWU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than WKU graduates. ($249 vs. $250)
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 47%)

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