Butler University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Butler University is a private research university in Indianapolis, Indiana, serving roughly 4,317 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 85.08% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $77,235 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $47,560
- 2024 Average Net Price: $36,041 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 85.08% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,317 98.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 80.38%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 13.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 3.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 99.8%
- Average SAT Score: 1274
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,700
- Applicants (IPEDS): 9,431
- Room & Board: $16,430 annual estimate
Butler University: what the data shows
Common questions about Butler University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Butler University?
Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (ZIP 46208).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Butler University public or private?
Butler University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Butler University cost?
Published tuition: $47,560.
Average net price after aid: $36,041.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $25,278 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $25,696 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $32,679 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $36,778 |
| $110,001+ | $41,134 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $190,240.
How hard is it to get into Butler University?
Admission rate: 85.08%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1274 and midpoint ACT 28.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Butler University?
Total enrollment: 4,317 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,700 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,257 students.
About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Butler University?
150%-time completion rate: 80.38%.
First-year retention: 87.5%.
What do graduates of Butler University earn?
Median earnings: $61,627 six years after entry; $77,235 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,000.
15.05% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Butler University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Medical Science/Scientist (132 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (107 completions)
- Education, Other (97 completions)
- Pharmacy (97 completions)
- Finance, General (94 completions)
- Physician Associate/Assistant (71 completions)
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other (70 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (67 completions)
- Accounting (57 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (52 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Butler University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 85.08%; completion rate 80.38%; median earnings $77,235 at 10 years; net price $36,041. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$47,560
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Butler University was $47,560.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$36,041
2024 Value
In 2024 Butler University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $36,041.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$144,164 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$36,041 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$190,240 4-Year Tuition
$16,430 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,300 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$65,290 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$261,160 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Butler University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
15.05% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
42.66% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Butler University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Butler University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $34,368 | $34,368 | $29,103 |
| 2014 | $35,652 | $35,652 | $30,814 |
| 2015 | $37,010 | $37,010 | $32,575 |
| 2016 | $38,360 | $38,360 | $31,211 |
| 2017 | $39,860 | $39,860 | $36,249 |
| 2018 | $41,120 | $41,120 | $35,488 |
| 2019 | $42,360 | $42,360 | $37,645 |
| 2020 | $43,400 | $43,400 | $39,430 |
| 2021 | $43,400 | $43,400 | $36,631 |
| 2022 | $44,460 | $44,460 | $37,339 |
| 2023 | $45,980 | $45,980 | $38,472 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
85.08% Acceptance Rate
9,431 Total Applicants
8,098 Students Admitted
1,151 First-Time Students Enrolled
14.21% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1274
ACT Average: 28
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.40
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Butler University reported total enrollment of about 4,317 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (76.8%), Hispanic or Latino (7.4%), and Black or African American (5.2%). About 15.05% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 13.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Butler University in 2024 is 4,317 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,700 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,257 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
87.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 76.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
71.95% 100% Completion Time
80.38% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 71.95% of students graduating from Butler University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Medical Science/Scientist: 23% male / 77% female
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 55% male / 45% female
- Education, Other: 5% male / 95% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Butler University.
Return on Investment
$26,000 Median Student Debt
$77,235 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
33.66% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
435.74% Return on Investment
3.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Butler University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 84 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Medical Science/Scientist: 132 completions
2. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 107 completions
3. Education, Other: 97 completions
4. Pharmacy: 97 completions
5. Finance, General: 94 completions
6. Physician Associate/Assistant: 71 completions
7. Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other: 70 completions
8. Business Administration and Management, General: 67 completions
9. Accounting: 57 completions
Most popular programs at Butler University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Butler University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Butler University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 99.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,694
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,447
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Butler University is a private non-profit institution located in Indianapolis, IN, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Medical Science/Scientist, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Education, Other. Enrollment is approximately 4,317 students. Student body composition includes White (76.8%), Hispanic or Latino (7.4%), Black or African American (5.2%). The admission rate is 85.08%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1274. The 150%-time completion rate is 80.38%. Approximately 15.05% of students receive Pell Grants. About 13.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 80.38% graduation rate, Butler University demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 84 distinct degree programs, Butler University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Butler University located?
Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN.
What is Butler University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Butler University is 85.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 9,431 applicants and 8,098 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Butler University cost?
Reported tuition is $47,560 and average net price is $36,041 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,430 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Butler University?
Butler University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,700 students, White (76.8%), Hispanic or Latino (7.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Butler University?
About 13.0% of students at Butler University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Butler University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Butler University reports midpoint SAT about 1274 and midpoint ACT about 28.
What do graduates of Butler University earn?
Median earnings are $61,627 six years after entry and $77,235 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Butler University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 80.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Butler University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,000.
Is Butler University public or private?
Butler University is a private nonprofit institution located in Indianapolis, IN.
Is Butler University an HBCU?
No. Butler University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Butler University a tribal college?
No. Butler University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Indiana college costs
- Indiana colleges by ROI
- Indianapolis, Indiana city profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Indiana
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.