BSU vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Ball State University in Muncie, IN with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ball State University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

BSU vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver ($13,599 vs. $18,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 14.8% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($12,334 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Beaver is 30% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $3,326 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $11,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.8% higher at BSU than at Penn State Beaver (about $5,496 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at Ball State University (88% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 46.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($13,218 vs. $9,045).

BSU vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BSU or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver and BSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 20 points higher than at BSU (1170).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at BSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 1080/1260; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 20/24; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSU - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than BSU (85.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

BSU vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and Penn State Beaver? 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).

• Ball State University's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ball State University graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, BSU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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.