Butler University
Butler University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Butler University Featured Rankings
About Butler University
According to Wikipedia, Butler University is a private university in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university has over 60 major academic fields of study in six colleges: the Lacy School of Business, College of Communication, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Jordan College of the Arts. Its campus is approximately from downtown Indianapolis.
Butler University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9,431 | 85% | 87% | 77% | 1255 | 28 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Butler University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $49,890 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $30,817 |
| 30K - 48K | $29,151 |
| 48K - 75K | $32,800 |
| 75K - 110K | $38,123 |
| 110K+ | $43,200 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Butler University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Butler University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $83,535 a year, and 96% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Butler University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 6,465 | 4,674 | 1,791 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Butler University?
Butler University is located at 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46208.
How Safe is Butler University?
Like every college that receives federal student aid, Butler University publishes an annual security report with its campus crime statistics and safety policies. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Butler University has a violent crime rate of 0.10% and a property crime rate of 0.17%. Indianapolis has a violent crime rate of 0.94% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 3.35%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Butler University Known For?
Butler University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Chemistry
- Religious Studies
- History
- Literature
- Communications
- Biology
- Philosophy
- Social Work
- Business
- Physics
- Education
- Political Science
- Medical
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Anthropology
Butler University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Butler University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Butler University ranks #236 in the U.S. and #1136 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesButler University ranks #239 in the U.S. and #1022 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesButler University ranks #242 in the U.S. and #679 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesButler University ranks #246 in the U.S. and #709 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesButler University ranks #265 in the U.S. and #953 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesButler University ranks #309 in the U.S. and #1254 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesButler University ranks #315 in the U.S. and #1036 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesButler University ranks #320 in the U.S. and #792 worldwide for influence in Social Work.
social-work DegreesButler University ranks #329 in the U.S. and #1139 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesButler University ranks #336 in the U.S. and #1497 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesButler University ranks #347 in the U.S. and #1481 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesButler University ranks #349 in the U.S. and #1376 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesButler University ranks #353 in the U.S. and #1261 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesButler University ranks #363 in the U.S. and #2226 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesButler University ranks #384 in the U.S. and #1596 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesButler University ranks #407 in the U.S. and #1882 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesButler University ranks #412 in the U.S. and #2497 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesButler University ranks #439 in the U.S. and #1112 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesButler University ranks #563 in the U.S. and #1944 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesButler University ranks #651 in the U.S. and #2025 worldwide for influence in Anthropology.
anthropology DegreesWho Are Butler University's Most Influential Alumni?
Butler University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of History, Religious Studies, and Literature. Here are some of Butler University's most famous alumni:
- David Starr Jordan
- An American ichthyologist and educator .
- Arthur C. Cope
- An American chemist.
- Robert W. Funk
- An American theologian and Biblical scholar .
- Howard A. Howe
- An American physician .
- Freddie Hubbard
- An American jazz trumpeter .
- Jim Jones
- An American cult leader .
- Michael Calvin McGee
- An American academic.
- Catherine McGeoch
- An American computer scientist.
- Ken Brewer
- An American poet, scholar.
- Gordon Hayward
- An American basketball player.
- Garo Yepremian
- An American football player .
- Maurice Kenny
- An American writer .
Who Are Butler University's Most Influential Faculty?
Butler University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of History, Religious Studies, and Literature. Here are some of Butler University's most famous faculty:
