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Purdue North Central Kentucky IU Purdue University of Toledo Indiana State Eastern IU Northwest IPFW IUPUI Murray State University Ohio University| Ball State University | Northern Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BSU | NKU | ||
| Location | Muncie, IN | Highland Heights, KY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 20,440 | 14,961 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #515 | #912 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bsu.edu | nku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BSU | NKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,688 | $10,512 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,696 | $21,096 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,064 | $11,660 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,017 | $8,151 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,046 | $11,492 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 75% | 98% |
Admission |
BSU | NKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 28,668 | 6,417 | ||
| Admitted | 20,525 | 6,162 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 71.6% | 96% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.6% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1250 | 916/1133 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
BSU | NKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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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 | 6% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 21% | 24% | ||
| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 28% | ||
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 |
Comparable Facts
- Ball State University is larger than than NKU based on total student enrollment (20,440 students vs. 14,961 students)
BSU vs. NKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BSU or NKU?
- Northern Kentucky University is 21% more expensive to attend than BSU for in-state tuition ($10,512.00 vs. $8,688.00)
- Out of state tuition is 26.5% higher at BSU than Northern Kentucky University ($26,696.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than BSU ($8,151 vs. $13,017)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Kentucky University are 3.5% lower than costs at Ball State University ($11,660 vs. $12,064)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University than Ball State University (98% vs. 75%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 13.5% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($13,046 vs. $11,492)
BSU vs. NKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
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 .
- The average SAT score at Ball State University (1070) is 2 points higher than at NKU (1068)
- Incoming NKU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at BSU (22)
- Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than BSU (71.6%)
BSU vs. NKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
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.
- The graduation rate at BSU is higher than Northern Kentucky University (55% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Ball State University earn on average $2,800 more per year than NKU graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $39,700)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $50 lower median federal student loan debt than BSU graduates. ($24,950 vs. $25,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than BSU graduates. ($257 vs. $258)
- More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU 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/