ONU vs. OWU

Deciding between Ohio Northern University and Ohio Wesleyan University? 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.

Ohio Northern University
Ohio Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Setting
  • ONU Distant Town
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ONU 3,140
  • OWU 1,525
  • Type
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ONU #228
  • OWU #386
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ONU United Methodist
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Status
  • ONU Non-profit
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ONU
  • OWU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ONU $39,800
  • OWU $53,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ONU $39,800
  • OWU $53,888
  • Room & Board
  • ONU $14,604
  • OWU $14,684
  • Average Net Price
  • ONU $25,941
  • OWU $23,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ONU $27,696
  • OWU $45,481
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ONU 97%
  • OWU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ONU 4,640
  • OWU 6,144
  • Admitted
  • ONU 3,452
  • OWU 3,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ONU 74.4%
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ONU 19.9%
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ONU 1290
  • OWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • ONU 26
  • OWU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • ONU 3.78
  • OWU 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ONU A-
  • OWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ONU Difficult
  • OWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ONU Low
  • OWU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ONU 24/29
  • OWU 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ONU Test optional
  • OWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ONU 13:1
  • OWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ONU 65%
  • OWU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ONU $71,200
  • OWU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ONU 82%
  • OWU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ONU $27,000
  • OWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ONU $279
  • OWU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ONU 53%
  • OWU 44%
  • % Women
  • ONU 47%
  • OWU 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ONU Very Low
  • OWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ONU No
  • OWU No
  • % White
  • ONU 84%
  • OWU 70%
  • % Asian
  • ONU 1%
  • OWU 3%
  • % Black
  • ONU 3%
  • OWU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ONU 1%
  • OWU 5%
  • % Native American
  • ONU 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ONU 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ONU 4%
  • OWU 5%
  • % International
  • ONU 4%
  • OWU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ONU 3%
  • OWU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ONU 85%
  • OWU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ONU 13%
  • OWU 24%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH with Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio Northern University is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (3,140 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio Northern University is located in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting); Ohio Wesleyan University is in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Ohio Northern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio Northern University 13:1; Ohio Wesleyan University 12:1.

ONU vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ONU or OWU? 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 Ohio Wesleyan University than ONU ($23,006 vs. $25,941).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Northern University are 0.5% lower than at Ohio Wesleyan University ($14,604 vs. $14,684).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 35.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ONU (about $14,088 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.4% higher at OWU than at Ohio Northern University (about $14,088 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at Ohio Northern University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 64.2% larger than aid received by Ohio Northern University students ($45,481 vs. $27,696).

ONU vs. OWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ONU or OWU? 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 OWU and ONU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio Northern University (1290) is 60 points higher than at OWU (1230).
  • Incoming OWU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at ONU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 1175/1400; Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Northern University 24/29; Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ONU - Test optional; OWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ONU Aug 15, 2027; OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than OWU (55.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at ONU vs. 12.6% at OWU.

ONU vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ONU and OWU? 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).

  • Ohio Northern University's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Ohio Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn a median of about $21,600 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,200 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ohio Wesleyan University and ONU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Ohio Wesleyan University and ONU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More ONU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OWU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

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.