Columbia Southern University vs Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global (IWU)

Columbia Southern University and Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global stand out as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique educational experiences. Columbia Southern, a private, online university, boasts an open admissions policy, making it accessible to a wide range of students. In contrast, Indiana Wesleyan, a private, Christian university, maintains a selective admissions process, resulting in a lower acceptance rate. While both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, Columbia Southern excels in business and healthcare, while Indiana Wesleyan shines in liberal arts and education. Additionally, Columbia Southern's student body is predominantly composed of working adults, while Indiana Wesleyan attracts a more traditional student population. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more, providing valuable insights into the distinct offerings of each university.
Columbia Southern University logo

Columbia Southern University

Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global logo

Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Overview

Location Orange Beach, Alabama Marion, Indiana
Campus setting Town: Fringe Rural: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (For Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Non Traditional Non Traditional
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 40.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $19,177 $22,962
Average net price $12,474 $18,808
Tuition $5,640 $7,176
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

56.0%
Average amount $3,123
76.0%
Average amount $5,218
Students receiving federal student loan 41.0%
Average amount $5,701
73.0%
Average amount $6,367
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
0.0%
Average amount $17,771

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 11,672
Men 65.2% Women 34.8%
5,701
Men 25.7% Women 74.3%
Graduate students 4,740
Men 53.9% Women 46.1%
4,307
Men 30.6% Women 69.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 0.0% 3.0%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe Rural: Fringe
Dormitory capacity N/A N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Health Professions
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Education
  • Theology
Students to faculty ratio 31:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 33.4% 38.0%
Dropout rate 57.6% 60.8%
Transferred out 2.2% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,983
  • Year 2: $68,880
  • Year 3: $78,451
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,300
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $75,520
Homeland Security (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,707
  • Year 2: $71,473
  • Year 3: $73,060
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,385
  • Year 2: $67,304
  • Year 3: $72,485
Fire Protection (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,128
  • Year 2: $69,691
  • Year 3: $71,770
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,839
  • Year 2: $69,785
  • Year 3: $67,888
Fire Protection (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,269
  • Year 2: $61,922
  • Year 3: $65,587
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,097
  • Year 2: $58,092
  • Year 3: $62,377
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,105
  • Year 2: $62,260
  • Year 3: $59,697
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,526
  • Year 2: $58,990
  • Year 3: $59,493
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $83,132
  • Year 2: $98,512
  • Year 3: $97,538
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,056
  • Year 2: $66,155
  • Year 3: $77,832
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,657
  • Year 2: $66,326
  • Year 3: $69,352
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,518
  • Year 2: $63,353
  • Year 3: $64,849
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,938
  • Year 2: $59,534
  • Year 3: $64,071
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,285
  • Year 2: $51,273
  • Year 3: $59,070
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,341
  • Year 2: $55,840
  • Year 3: $58,327
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,382
  • Year 2: $54,331
  • Year 3: $57,674
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,619
  • Year 2: $52,044
  • Year 3: $56,351
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,151
  • Year 2: $50,606
  • Year 3: $54,745

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