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CMU GVSU Oakland WSU Michigan State Purdue North Central ISU Eastern Michigan University IU Northern Illinois Michigan Tech Purdue| Ball State University | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BSU | WMU | ||
| Location | Muncie, IN | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 19,777 | 17,000 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #547 | #634 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bsu.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BSU | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,434 | $14,523 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,918 | $18,154 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,904 | $11,102 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,615 | $20,030 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,418 | $6,813 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 93% |
Admission |
BSU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,859 | 20,501 | ||
| Admitted | 15,761 | 17,334 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.9% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.1% | 15.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/28 | 19/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1260 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
BSU | WMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BSU | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $275 |
Diversity |
BSU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 35% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 65% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 81% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
BSU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 79% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 19% | ||
Campus |
BSU | WMU | ||
| 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 WMU based on total student enrollment (19,777 students vs. 17,000 students)
BSU vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BSU or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 72.2% more expensive to attend than BSU for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $8,434.00)
- Out of state tuition is 42.8% higher at BSU than Western Michigan University ($25,918.00 vs. $18,154.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ball State University than WMU ($12,615 vs. $20,030)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 1.8% lower than costs at Western Michigan University ($10,904 vs. $11,102)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Ball State University than Western Michigan University (97% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 67.6% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($11,418 vs. $6,813)
BSU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BSU or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or BSU .
- The average SAT score at Ball State University (1070) is 40 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming BSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at WMU (3.5)
- WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than BSU (68.9%)
BSU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BSU or WMU? 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 WMU and BSU.
- The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Ball State University (56% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $6,400 more per year than BSU graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $42,500)
- Ball State University students graduate with a $1,633 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,633)
- BSU graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($258 vs. $275)
- More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/