BSU vs. Indiana State

Comparable Facts

Compare Ball State University in Muncie, IN with Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ball State University is larger than Indiana State based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 7,895 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); Indiana State University is in Terre Haute, IN (Small City setting).
• Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Indiana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; Indiana State University 16:1.

BSU vs. Indiana State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Indiana State? 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 Indiana State University than BSU ($12,066 vs. $13,599).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana State University are 0.6% lower than at Ball State University ($12,262 vs. $12,334).
• Ball State University is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Indiana State (about $824 more per year; $11,082.00 vs. $10,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.7% higher at BSU than at Indiana State University (about $7,308 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $22,322.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana State University than at Ball State University (97% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Indiana State University students ($13,218 vs. $12,383).

BSU vs. Indiana State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BSU or Indiana State? 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 Indiana State and BSU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 1080/1260.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 20/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSU - Test optional; Indiana State - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Indiana State (3.29).
• BSU has a higher acceptance rate (85.5%) than Indiana State (80.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 14.5% at Indiana State.

BSU vs. Indiana State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and Indiana State? 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).

• Ball State University's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Indiana State University's (42%).
• Graduates from Ball State University earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Indiana State graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana State University graduates have a $1,280 lower median loan debt than BSU graduates ($23,720 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Indiana State graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BSU graduates ($245 vs. $258).
• More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Indiana State students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 51%)

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.