Marian vs. CUW

Should I go to Marian University or Concordia University Wisconsin? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Marian or CUW 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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Marian University vs. Concordia University Wisconsin comparison
Marian University Concordia University Wisconsin College 3 College 4
Marian University Concordia University Wisconsin
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Overview

 Marian CUW
Location Indianapolis, IN Mequon, WI
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,701 4,988
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #395
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website marian.edu cuw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Marian CUW
Tuition (In State) $37,600 $32,770
Tuition (Out of State) $37,600 $32,770
Room & Board $12,000 $12,160
Avg Net Price $22,554 $24,485
Avg Grant Aid $28,904 $23,477
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Marian CUW
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,997 3,544
Admitted 1,874 2,494
Acceptance Rate 93.8% 70.4%
Enrolled % 24.8% 16.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Marian CUW
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (55%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (40%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (4%)

Outcomes

 Marian CUW
Graduation Rate 58% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $46,100
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,925
Median Loan Payment $279 $247

Diversity

 Marian CUW
% Men 37% 33%
% Women 63% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 72%
% Black 12% 15%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Marian CUW
% In-State 87% 63%
% Out-of-State 10% 37%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Concordia University Wisconsin is larger than than Marian based on total student enrollment (4,988 students vs. 3,701 students)

Marian vs. CUW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marian or CUW?

  • Marian University is 14.7% more expensive to attend than CUW for in-state tuition ($37,600.00 vs. $32,770.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.7% higher at Marian than Concordia University Wisconsin ($37,600.00 vs. $32,770.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marian University than CUW ($22,554 vs. $24,485)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marian University are 1.3% lower than costs at Concordia University Wisconsin ($12,000 vs. $12,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marian University than Concordia University Wisconsin (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 23.1% larger than aid received Concordia University Wisconsin ($28,904 vs. $23,477)

Marian vs. CUW Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Concordia University Wisconsin (1066) is 40 points higher than at Marian (1026)
  • Incoming Marian students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at CUW (23)
  • Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at CUW (3.52)
  • Marian has a higher acceptance rate (93.8%) than CUW (70.4%)

Marian vs. CUW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Marian or CUW? 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 CUW and Marian.

  • The graduation rate at Marian is the same as at Concordia University Wisconsin (58% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Concordia University Wisconsin earn on average $1,300 more per year than Marian graduates after ten years. ($46,100 vs. $44,800)
  • Concordia University Wisconsin students graduate with a $3,075 lower median federal student loan debt than Marian graduates. ($23,925 vs. $27,000)
  • CUW graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Marian graduates. ($247 vs. $279)
  • More Marian graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CUW students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 52%)

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