Butler University

Private · Moderately Selective · IN

Photo: Carol M. Highsmith (Public domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationIN · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads4,317

Student:faculty11:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate72%

6-yr grad rate80.4%

Drop-out rate12.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$48k

Out-of-state tuition$48k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity23.2%

Gender diversity60%

International1.3%

Identity—

Overview

Butler University is a private university in a residential neighborhood of Indianapolis, long known for combining strong pre-professional programs with a genuine liberal-arts core. It has built a national profile disproportionate to its size, driven in large part by its men's basketball program's underdog tournament runs.

Academics

Pharmacy and other health sciences are Butler's most rigorous and selective undergraduate tracks, drawing students specifically for direct-entry pharmacy pathways uncommon at schools this size. Business is similarly well regarded, and the Jordan College of the Arts includes a dance program built around a conservatory-style training model rather than a general liberal-arts approach to the arts.

Campus & student life

The campus is compact and largely residential, set within a quiet Indianapolis neighborhood a short distance from downtown. Hinkle Fieldhouse, one of the oldest and most storied arenas in college basketball, anchors campus spirit, and Blue, the university's live English bulldog mascot, is a genuine fixture of campus culture and school identity.

Getting in

Butler evaluates applicants holistically, with particular attention to direct-entry programs like pharmacy that require students to commit to a professional track from the start rather than declaring later. Essays and demonstrated interest carry real weight for a private university of its selectivity.

After graduation

Pharmacy graduates in particular benefit from strong placement into residencies and licensure exam pass rates that reflect the program's rigor, and the basketball-driven visibility has translated into broader alumni network recognition than the university's size would otherwise suggest.

Worth knowing

The direct-entry pharmacy program requires a real commitment decision at admission rather than allowing students to explore before declaring, which matters for students still deciding between health sciences and other paths.

butler.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate85.1%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1160–1350 · ACT 26–31

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Regular decisionFeb 1

Applying