IU vs. WSU

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington and Wayne State 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Wayne State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • WSU Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • WSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • WSU 23,803
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • WSU #551
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • WSU -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • WSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • WSU $15,190
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • WSU $32,037
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • WSU $14,252
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • WSU $14,416
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • WSU $12,953
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • WSU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • WSU 16,981
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • WSU 13,781
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • WSU 81.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • WSU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • WSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • WSU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • WSU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • WSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • WSU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • WSU
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • WSU 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • WSU 1060/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • WSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • WSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • WSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • WSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • WSU 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • WSU $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • WSU 38%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • WSU $22,258
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • WSU $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • WSU 40%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • WSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • WSU High
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • WSU No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • WSU 57%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • WSU 8%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • WSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • WSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • WSU 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • WSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • WSU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • WSU 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • WSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Wayne State University in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than WSU based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 23,803 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Wayne State University is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Wayne State University 14:1.

IU vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or WSU? 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 Wayne State University than IU ($14,416 vs. $17,270).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 1.9% lower than at Wayne State University ($13,984 vs. $14,252).
  • Wayne State University is 25.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $3,046 more per year; $15,190.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.8% higher at IU than at Wayne State University (about $9,854 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $32,037.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State University than at Indiana University Bloomington (98% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 23.5% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($12,953 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. WSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU or WSU? 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 WSU and IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 120 points higher than at WSU (1170).
  • Incoming IU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at WSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Wayne State University 1060/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Wayne State University 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at WSU (3.42).
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than IU (78.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 22.4% at WSU.

IU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU and WSU? 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 University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Wayne State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State University graduates have a $242 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($22,258 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($230 vs. $232).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 38%)

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.