BSU vs. Ohio University

Should I go to Ball State University or Ohio University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BSU or Ohio University 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. Ohio University Main Campus comparison
Ball State University Ohio University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Ball State University Ohio University Main Campus
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Overview

 BSU Ohio University
Location Muncie, IN Athens, OH
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 20,440 24,937
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #498
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsu.edu ohio.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 BSU Ohio University
Tuition (In State) $8,688 $13,746
Tuition (Out of State) $26,696 $24,114
Room & Board $12,064 $13,594
Avg Net Price $13,017 $20,550
Avg Grant Aid $13,046 $8,616
% Receiving Grant Aid 75% 93%

Admission

 BSU Ohio University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 28,668 25,648
Admitted 20,525 21,739
Acceptance Rate 71.6% 84.8%
Enrolled % 18.6% 21.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 22/28
SAT Range 1080/1250 1100/1290
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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 BSU Ohio University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Communication (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 BSU Ohio University
Graduation Rate 55% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $44,500
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 51%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $211

Diversity

 BSU Ohio University
% Men 6% 9%
% Women 21% 14%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 83%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 BSU Ohio University
% In-State 90% 86%
% Out-of-State 9% 13%

Campus

 BSU Ohio University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio University Main Campus is larger than than BSU based on total student enrollment (24,937 students vs. 20,440 students)

BSU vs. Ohio University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Ohio University?

  • Ohio University Main Campus is 58.2% more expensive to attend than BSU for in-state tuition ($13,746.00 vs. $8,688.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.7% higher at BSU than Ohio University Main Campus ($26,696.00 vs. $24,114.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ball State University than Ohio University ($13,017 vs. $20,550)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 12.7% lower than costs at Ohio University Main Campus ($12,064 vs. $13,594)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ohio University Main Campus than Ball State University (93% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 51.4% larger than aid received Ohio University Main Campus ($13,046 vs. $8,616)

BSU vs. Ohio University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Ohio University Main Campus (1108) is 38 points higher than at BSU (1070)
  • Incoming Ohio University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at BSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Ohio University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at BSU (3.52)
  • Ohio University has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than BSU (71.6%)

BSU vs. Ohio University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BSU or Ohio University? 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 Ohio University and BSU.

  • The graduation rate at Ohio University is higher than Ball State University (65% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Ohio University Main Campus earn on average $2,000 more per year than BSU graduates after ten years. ($44,500 vs. $42,500)
  • Ohio University Main Campus students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than BSU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Ohio University graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than BSU graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio University 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/