Should I go to Ball State University or Northern Kentucky University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BSU or NKU 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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Purdue North Central Kentucky IU Purdue University of Toledo Indiana State Eastern IU Northwest IPFW IUPUI Murray State University Ohio UniversityBall State University | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
BSU | NKU | ||
Location | Muncie, IN | Highland Heights, KY | ||
Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
Enrollment | 19,777 | 15,801 | ||
Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
National Ranking | #547 | #805 | ||
Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
Website | bsu.edu | nku.edu | ||
Team Colors |
Costs |
BSU | NKU | ||
Tuition (In State) | $8,434 | $10,208 | ||
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Tuition (Out of State) | $25,918 | $20,464 | ||
Room & Board | $10,904 | $11,248 | ||
Avg Net Price | $12,615 | $7,259 | ||
Avg Grant Aid | $11,418 | $11,275 | ||
% Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
BSU | NKU | ||
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Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
Applied | 22,859 | 6,905 | ||
Admitted | 15,761 | 5,939 | ||
Acceptance Rate | 68.9% | 86% | ||
Enrolled % | 22.1% | 27.6% | ||
Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | 3.42 | ||
Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
Applicant Competition | Low | |||
ACT Range | 23/28 | 19/25 | ||
SAT Range | 1090/1260 | 1030/1290 | ||
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 | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
BSU | NKU | ||
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Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 17:1 | ||
Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
BSU | NKU | ||
Graduation Rate | 55% | 37% | ||
Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $39,700 | ||
Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 53% | ||
Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $24,950 | ||
Median Loan Payment | $258 | $257 |
Diversity |
BSU | NKU | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
% Men | 35% | 36% | ||
% Women | 65% | 64% | ||
Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
HBCU | No | No | ||
% White | 81% | 82% | ||
% Black | 8% | 7% | ||
% Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
% Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
% Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
% Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
% International | 2% | 3% | ||
% Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
BSU | NKU | ||
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% In-State | 90% | 66% | ||
% Out-of-State | 9% | 26% | ||
Campus |
BSU | NKU | ||
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 |
Which college is more expensive, BSU or NKU?
Which college is harder to get into, BSU or NKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NKU or BSU .
Which is better, BSU or NKU? 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 NKU and BSU.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/