Butler University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Butler University is a private institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. For the most recent reporting cycle, Butler University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 82%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1250 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $36,041 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Butler University?

63% of enrolled students at Butler University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.84, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does Butler University weight in admissions?

Butler University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

How Butler University reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores Butler University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 570–670, with an EBRW midpoint near 625. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–31. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Butler University actually cost?

Published tuition is $47,560 for in-state students and $47,560 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,430 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $36,041 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Butler University

Will my child graduate from Butler University?

These predict outcomes at Butler University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Butler University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Butler University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Marketing, Finance and Financial Management Services and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. Across all programs, Butler University confers roughly 584 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Marketing program report a median income of about $71,635 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Butler University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Butler University disclosed 27 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 15 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Butler University?

About 66% of undergraduates at Butler University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 25% of men join a fraternity and 31% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Indiana parents ask about

• Valparaiso University
  89% acceptance
• Indiana State University
  81% acceptance
• Indiana University-Indianapolis
  76% acceptance
• University of Notre Dame
  11% acceptance
• Purdue University-Main Campus
  50% acceptance
• Indiana University-Bloomington
  78% acceptance
• DePauw University
  57% acceptance
• Wabash College
  63% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Butler University