BSU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

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

Ball State University is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

BSU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny ($13,599 vs. $15,574).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 14.8% lower than at Penn State Greater Allegheny ($12,334 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny (about $5,496 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Greater Allegheny than at Ball State University (86% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 18.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($13,218 vs. $11,121).

BSU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BSU or Penn State Greater Allegheny? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Greater Allegheny and BSU.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 10 points higher than at BSU (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ball State University 1080/1260; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ball State University 20/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSU - Test optional; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than BSU (85.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

BSU vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and Penn State Greater Allegheny? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Ball State University's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, BSU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Greater Allegheny 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.