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Marion, IN · Valparaiso, IN
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | Valparaiso University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $22,866/yr | $18,578/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $19,793/yr | $11,043/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $24,250 | $26,942 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $14,896/yr | $12,055/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $18,313/yr | $15,279/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,336/yr | $22,311/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $27,265/yr | $24,780/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $257/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $10,868/yr | $13,618/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $7,032/yr | $11,800/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,384/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,016/yr | $1,870/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $44,776/yr | $58,437/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $32,352/yr | $48,450/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $32,352/yr | $48,450/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 27% | 27% |
| Students taking federal loans | 71% | 52% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 89% | 89% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 960–1180 | 1060–1280 |
| SAT average | 1082 | 1178 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–28 | 23–31 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 19–25 · Math 17–25 | English 24–31 · Math 22–30 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 3,035 | 6,133 |
| Students accepted | 2,495 | 5,656 |
| Students who enrolled | 500 | 596 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 20% | 11% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 61% | 27% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 14% | 6% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 67% | 70% |
| Freshmen who come back | 83% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $59,986/yr | $63,191/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $38,195–$88,091 | $42,013–$89,612 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 68% | 71% |
| White students graduating | 69% | 76% |
| Black students graduating | 38% | 38% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 50% | 62% |
| Asian students graduating | 64% | 67% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $51,329/yr | $55,216/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 80% | 79% |
| Graduate on time | 57% | 62% |
| Pell students who graduate | 57% | 59% |
| First-gen students who finish | 45% | 68% |
| Low-income students who finish | 33% | 61% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $59,093/yr | $59,972/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 18% · Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Education 12% | Health Professions 28% · Engineering 15% · Business, Management & Marketing 13% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 18% of degrees | Health Professions — 28% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees | Engineering — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Education — 12% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Social Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $73,557/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $111,824/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 12% | 31% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,974 | 2,083 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 10 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 129 | 456 |
| Average professor pay | $8,247/mo | $8,127/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 70% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $35,007 | $70,535 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Suburb (small) |
| Location | Marion, IN | Valparaiso, IN |
| Region | Great Lakes | Great Lakes |
| Founded | 1920 | 1859 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.6% | 4% |
| Men | 40% | 43% |
| Women | 60% | 57% |
| White students | 82% | 66% |
| Black students | 5.5% | 6.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5% | 14% |
| Asian students | 2.3% | 3.7% |
| Two or more races | 2.4% | 4.4% |
| Other / not reported | 1.6% | 1.4% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 47% | 29% |
| Part-time students | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.4% | 3.7% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $15,953/yr | $11,626/yr |
| Endowment | $288.6M | $311.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,440 | 1,660 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,346/yr | $8,198/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,208/yr | $5,190/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Wesleyan | Lutheran Church in America |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NAIA Division II | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 20 | 15 |
| Student athletes | 541 | 432 |
| Athletic scholarships | $4.3M | $4.4M |
| Athletics budget | $11.3M | $16.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $12.1M | $17.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $44,430 | $216,853 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.