BSU vs. Chatham

Deciding between Ball State University and Chatham University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Ball State University
Chatham University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BSU Muncie, IN
  • Chatham Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • BSU Small City
  • Chatham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BSU 21,089
  • Chatham 2,309
  • Type
  • BSU Public 4 Year
  • Chatham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BSU #630
  • Chatham #265
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BSU -
  • Chatham -
  • Status
  • BSU Non-profit
  • Chatham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BSU
  • Chatham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BSU $11,082
  • Chatham $44,626
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BSU $29,630
  • Chatham $44,626
  • Room & Board
  • BSU $12,334
  • Chatham $13,600
  • Average Net Price
  • BSU $13,599
  • Chatham $31,280
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BSU $13,218
  • Chatham $30,095
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BSU 77%
  • Chatham 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BSU 21,093
  • Chatham 3,446
  • Admitted
  • BSU 18,034
  • Chatham 2,135
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BSU 85.5%
  • Chatham 62%
  • Enrolled
  • BSU 20.4%
  • Chatham 12.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BSU 1170
  • Chatham 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • BSU 22
  • Chatham 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • BSU 3.52
  • Chatham 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BSU A-
  • Chatham A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BSU Moderate
  • Chatham Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • BSU
  • Chatham Low
  • ACT Range
  • BSU 20/24
  • Chatham 21/30
  • SAT Range
  • BSU 1080/1260
  • Chatham 1070/1295
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BSU Test optional
  • Chatham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BSU
  • Chatham

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BSU 14:1
  • Chatham 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Chatham
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BSU 55%
  • Chatham 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BSU $42,500
  • Chatham $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BSU 63%
  • Chatham 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BSU $25,000
  • Chatham $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BSU $258
  • Chatham $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BSU 35%
  • Chatham 26%
  • % Women
  • BSU 65%
  • Chatham 74%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BSU Low
  • Chatham Low
  • HBCU
  • BSU No
  • Chatham No
  • % White
  • BSU 81%
  • Chatham 72%
  • % Asian
  • BSU 1%
  • Chatham 2%
  • % Black
  • BSU 8%
  • Chatham 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • BSU 4%
  • Chatham 5%
  • % Native American
  • BSU 0%
  • Chatham 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BSU 0%
  • Chatham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BSU 3%
  • Chatham 2%
  • % International
  • BSU 2%
  • Chatham 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BSU 1%
  • Chatham 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BSU 91%
  • Chatham 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BSU 8%
  • Chatham 36%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BSU Yes
  • Chatham Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BSU No
  • Chatham No
  • Meal Plan
  • BSU Yes
  • Chatham Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BSU Yes
  • Chatham No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BSU Yes
  • Chatham No

Comparable Facts

Compare Ball State University in Muncie, IN with Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ball State University is larger than Chatham based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 2,309 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); Chatham University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Chatham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; Chatham University 10:1.

BSU vs. Chatham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Chatham? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ball State University than Chatham ($13,599 vs. $31,280).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 9.3% lower than at Chatham University ($12,334 vs. $13,600).
  • Chatham University is 302.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $33,544 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $11,082.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.6% higher at Chatham than at Ball State University (about $14,996 more per year; $44,626.00 vs. $29,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chatham University than at Ball State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chatham University students is 127.7% larger than aid received by Ball State University students ($30,095 vs. $13,218).

BSU vs. Chatham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BSU or Chatham? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Chatham and BSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Chatham University (1180) is 10 points higher than at BSU (1170).
  • Incoming Chatham students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at BSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 1080/1260; Chatham University 1070/1295.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 20/24; Chatham University 21/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSU - Test optional; Chatham - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Chatham students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at BSU (3.52).
  • BSU has a higher acceptance rate (85.5%) than Chatham (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 12.7% at Chatham.

BSU vs. Chatham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and Chatham? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Chatham University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Ball State University's (55%).
  • Graduates from Ball State University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Chatham graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Chatham University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than BSU graduates ($20,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Chatham graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BSU graduates ($211 vs. $258).
  • More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chatham students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.