BSU vs. Penn State New Kensington

Comparable Facts

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

Ball State University is larger than Penn State New Kensington based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 421 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); Penn State New Kensington is in New Kensington, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State New Kensington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; Penn State New Kensington 9:1.

BSU vs. Penn State New Kensington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington ($13,599 vs. $19,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 19.2% lower than at Penn State New Kensington ($12,334 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington (about $5,496 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State New Kensington than at Ball State University (94% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 69.3% larger than aid received by Penn State New Kensington students ($13,218 vs. $7,809).

BSU vs. Penn State New Kensington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State New Kensington (1190) is 20 points higher than at BSU (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 1080/1260; Penn State New Kensington 1110/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 20/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSU - Test optional; Penn State New Kensington - Test optional.
• Penn State New Kensington has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than BSU (85.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 22% at Penn State New Kensington.

BSU vs. Penn State New Kensington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, BSU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State New Kensington graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State New Kensington 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.