BSU vs. Marian

Comparable Facts

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

Ball State University is larger than Marian based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 3,486 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); Marian University is in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting).
• Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Marian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; Marian University 13:1.

BSU vs. Marian Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Marian? 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 Marian ($13,599 vs. $22,786).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 10.9% lower than at Marian University ($12,334 vs. $13,850).
• Marian University is 266.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $29,582 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $11,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.2% higher at Marian than at Ball State University (about $11,034 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $29,630.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marian University than at Ball State University (97% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 144.7% larger than aid received by Ball State University students ($32,351 vs. $13,218).

BSU vs. Marian Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BSU or Marian? 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 Marian 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; Marian - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Marian Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at BSU (3.52).
• Marian has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than BSU (85.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 15.6% at Marian.

BSU vs. Marian Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and Marian? 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).

• Marian University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Ball State University's (55%).
• Graduates from Marian University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ball State University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Marian graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, BSU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marian graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marian students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 57%)

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.