IWU vs. WMU

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

IWU WMU
Location Marion, IN Kalamazoo, MI
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 2,603 17,000
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #299 #634
Religious Affiliation Wesleyan - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website indwes.edu wmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IWU WMU
Tuition (In State) $29,684 $14,523
Tuition (Out of State) $29,684 $18,154
Room & Board $10,050 $11,102
Avg Net Price $21,755 $20,030
Avg Grant Aid $20,194 $6,813
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

IWU WMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,946 20,501
Admitted 3,422 17,334
Acceptance Rate 86.7% 84.6%
Enrolled % 16.9% 15.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 19/27
SAT Range 1000/1190 990/1220
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

Academics

IWU WMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (56%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
  • Education (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)

Outcomes

IWU WMU
Graduation Rate 70% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $48,900
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,104 $26,633
Median Loan Payment $249 $275

Diversity

IWU WMU
% Men 34% 47%
% Women 66% 53%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 72%
% Black 19% 12%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

IWU WMU
% In-State 60% 79%
% Out-of-State 39% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than IWU based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 2,603 students)

IWU vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU or WMU?

  • Indiana Wesleyan University is 104.4% more expensive to attend than WMU for in-state tuition ($29,684.00 vs. $14,523.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.5% higher at IWU than Western Michigan University ($29,684.00 vs. $18,154.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Michigan University than IWU ($20,030 vs. $21,755)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University are 10.5% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,050 vs. $11,102)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University than Western Michigan University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University students is 196.4% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($20,194 vs. $6,813)

IWU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Indiana Wesleyan University (1086) is 56 points higher than at WMU (1030)
  • Incoming IWU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at WMU (3.5)
  • IWU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than WMU (84.6%)

IWU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at IWU is higher than Western Michigan University (70% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University earn on average $5,400 more per year than WMU graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $48,900)
  • Indiana Wesleyan University students graduate with a $2,529 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($24,104 vs. $26,633)
  • IWU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($249 vs. $275)
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 54%)

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