BSU vs. IUPUI

Should I go to Ball State University or Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BSU or IUPUI is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Ball State University vs. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis comparison
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Ball State University Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
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Overview

BSU IUPUI
Location Muncie, IN Indianapolis, IN
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 19,777 25,979
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #547 #482
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsu.edu iupui.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BSU IUPUI
Tuition (In State) $8,434 $8,972
Tuition (Out of State) $25,918 $31,410
Room & Board $10,904 $11,252
Avg Net Price $12,615 $11,462
Avg Grant Aid $11,418 $12,201
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 83%

Admission

BSU IUPUI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,859 15,637
Admitted 15,761 12,961
Acceptance Rate 68.9% 82.9%
Enrolled % 22.1% 27.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.52
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/28 21/27
SAT Range 1090/1260 1050/1250
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 15, 2025

Academics

BSU IUPUI
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)

Outcomes

BSU IUPUI
Graduation Rate 55% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,090
Median Loan Payment $258 $238

Diversity

BSU IUPUI
% Men 35% 40%
% Women 65% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 72%
% Black 8% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

BSU IUPUI
% In-State 90% 91%
% Out-of-State 9% 7%

Campus

BSU IUPUI
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

  • Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is larger than than BSU based on total student enrollment (25,979 students vs. 19,777 students)

BSU vs. IUPUI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or IUPUI?

  • Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is 6.4% more expensive to attend than BSU for in-state tuition ($8,972.00 vs. $8,434.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.2% higher at IUPUI than Ball State University ($31,410.00 vs. $25,918.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis than BSU ($11,462 vs. $12,615)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 3.2% lower than costs at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ($10,904 vs. $11,252)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ball State University than Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (97% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis students is 6.9% larger than aid received Ball State University ($12,201 vs. $11,418)

BSU vs. IUPUI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BSU or IUPUI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between IUPUI or BSU .

  • The average SAT score at Ball State University (1070) is 56 points higher than at IUPUI (1014)
  • Incoming BSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at IUPUI (22)
  • Accepted freshman BSU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.52) as students at IUPUI (3.52)
  • IUPUI has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than BSU (68.9%)

BSU vs. IUPUI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BSU or IUPUI? 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 IUPUI and BSU.

  • The graduation rate at BSU is higher than Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (55% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn on average $6,100 more per year than BSU graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $42,500)
  • Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis students graduate with a $1,910 lower median federal student loan debt than BSU graduates. ($23,090 vs. $25,000)
  • IUPUI graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than BSU graduates. ($238 vs. $258)
  • More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IUPUI students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/