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Michigan State WMU CMU Oakland Ferris State University Saginaw Valley State University WSU Purdue North Central Michigan IU Purdue Hope College| Ball State University | Grand Valley State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BSU | GVSU | ||
| Location | Muncie, IN | Allendale, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 19,777 | 21,648 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #547 | #583 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bsu.edu | gvsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BSU | GVSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,434 | $13,952 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,918 | $19,856 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,904 | $10,140 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,615 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,418 | $8,811 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 93% |
Admission |
BSU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,859 | 17,123 | ||
| Admitted | 15,761 | 15,474 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.9% | 90.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.1% | 25% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/28 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1260 | 960/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
BSU | GVSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BSU | GVSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $44,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $258 |
Diversity |
BSU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 35% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 65% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 81% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
BSU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 8% | ||
Campus |
BSU | GVSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Grand Valley State University is larger than than BSU based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 19,777 students)
BSU vs. GVSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BSU or GVSU?
- Grand Valley State University is 65.4% more expensive to attend than BSU for in-state tuition ($13,952.00 vs. $8,434.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.5% higher at BSU than Grand Valley State University ($25,918.00 vs. $19,856.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ball State University than GVSU ($12,615 vs. $17,105)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 7.5% lower than costs at Ball State University ($10,140 vs. $10,904)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Ball State University than Grand Valley State University (97% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 29.6% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($11,418 vs. $8,811)
BSU vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BSU or GVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GVSU or BSU .
- The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 20 points higher than at BSU (1070)
- Incoming GVSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at BSU (22)
- Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at BSU (3.52)
- GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than BSU (68.9%)
BSU vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BSU or GVSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between GVSU and BSU.
- The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Ball State University (63% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $2,100 more per year than BSU graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $42,500)
- Grand Valley State University and BSU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
- Grand Valley State University and BSU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
- More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU 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/