Wheaton College vs. Butler

Deciding between Wheaton College and Butler 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.

Wheaton College
Butler University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wheaton College Wheaton, IL
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Setting
  • Wheaton College Large Suburban
  • Butler Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wheaton College 2,874
  • Butler 5,746
  • Type
  • Wheaton College Private 4 Year
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wheaton College #146
  • Butler #209
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wheaton College Undenominational
  • Butler -
  • Status
  • Wheaton College Non-profit
  • Butler Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wheaton College
  • Butler
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • Butler $47,560
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wheaton College $45,546
  • Butler $47,560
  • Room & Board
  • Wheaton College $13,010
  • Butler $16,430
  • Average Net Price
  • Wheaton College $31,356
  • Butler $38,438
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wheaton College $27,987
  • Butler $27,790
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wheaton College 98%
  • Butler 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wheaton College 2,040
  • Butler 9,471
  • Admitted
  • Wheaton College 1,783
  • Butler 8,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wheaton College 87.4%
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Wheaton College 29.9%
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wheaton College 1370
  • Butler 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wheaton College 30
  • Butler 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wheaton College 3.75
  • Butler 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wheaton College A-
  • Butler A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wheaton College Very High
  • Butler Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wheaton College
  • Butler
  • ACT Range
  • Wheaton College 28/32
  • Butler 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • Wheaton College 1260/1470
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wheaton College Test optional
  • Butler Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wheaton College 10:1
  • Butler 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wheaton College
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wheaton College 87%
  • Butler 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wheaton College $54,300
  • Butler $68,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wheaton College 90%
  • Butler 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wheaton College $22,500
  • Butler $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wheaton College $232
  • Butler $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wheaton College 46%
  • Butler 38%
  • % Women
  • Wheaton College 54%
  • Butler 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wheaton College Low
  • Butler Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Wheaton College No
  • Butler No
  • % White
  • Wheaton College 76%
  • Butler 82%
  • % Asian
  • Wheaton College 9%
  • Butler 3%
  • % Black
  • Wheaton College 3%
  • Butler 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wheaton College 6%
  • Butler 4%
  • % Native American
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Butler 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Butler 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wheaton College 5%
  • Butler 2%
  • % International
  • Wheaton College 3%
  • Butler 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wheaton College 0%
  • Butler 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wheaton College 25%
  • Butler 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wheaton College 68%
  • Butler 48%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Wheaton College Yes
  • Butler Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Wheaton College No
  • Butler Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Wheaton College Yes
  • Butler Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Wheaton College No
  • Butler No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Wheaton College No
  • Butler No

Comparable Facts

Compare Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL with Butler University in Indianapolis, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Butler University is larger than Wheaton College based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 2,874 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wheaton College is located in Wheaton, IL (Large Suburban setting); Butler University is in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting).
  • Wheaton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wheaton College 10:1; Butler University 11:1.

Wheaton College vs. Butler Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wheaton College or Butler? 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 Wheaton College than Butler ($31,356 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wheaton College are 20.8% lower than at Butler University ($13,010 vs. $16,430).
  • Butler University is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wheaton College (about $2,014 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $45,546.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Butler than at Wheaton College (about $2,014 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $45,546.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wheaton College than at Butler University (98% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wheaton College students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Butler University students ($27,987 vs. $27,790).

Wheaton College vs. Butler Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wheaton College or Butler? 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 Butler and Wheaton College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wheaton College (1370) is 110 points higher than at Butler (1260).
  • Incoming Wheaton College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Butler).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 1260/1470; Butler University 1160/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wheaton College 28/32; Butler University 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wheaton College - Test optional; Butler - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wheaton College Aug 1, 2027; Butler Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Wheaton College (3.75).
  • Wheaton College has a higher acceptance rate (87.4%) than Butler (85.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.9% at Wheaton College vs. 12.9% at Butler.

Wheaton College vs. Butler Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wheaton College and Butler? 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).

  • Wheaton College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Butler University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Butler University earn a median of about $14,100 more per year than Wheaton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,400 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wheaton College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wheaton College graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($232 vs. $279).
  • More Wheaton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Butler students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 84%)

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.