BSU vs. Wright State

Deciding between Ball State University and Wright State University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Ball State University
Wright State University Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BSU Muncie, IN
  • Wright State Dayton, OH
  • Setting
  • BSU Small City
  • Wright State Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BSU 21,089
  • Wright State 10,603
  • Type
  • BSU Public 4 Year
  • Wright State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BSU #630
  • Wright State #832
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BSU -
  • Wright State -
  • Status
  • BSU Non-profit
  • Wright State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BSU
  • Wright State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BSU $11,082
  • Wright State $11,522
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BSU $29,630
  • Wright State $21,222
  • Room & Board
  • BSU $12,334
  • Wright State $11,250
  • Average Net Price
  • BSU $13,599
  • Wright State $15,254
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BSU $13,218
  • Wright State $8,942
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BSU 77%
  • Wright State 92%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BSU 21,093
  • Wright State 8,855
  • Admitted
  • BSU 18,034
  • Wright State 8,530
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BSU 85.5%
  • Wright State 96.3% Open
  • Enrolled
  • BSU 20.4%
  • Wright State 20.4% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • BSU 1170
  • Wright State 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • BSU 22
  • Wright State 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • BSU 3.52
  • Wright State 3.41
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BSU A-
  • Wright State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BSU Moderate
  • Wright State Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • BSU
  • Wright State
  • ACT Range
  • BSU 20/24
  • Wright State 17/25
  • SAT Range
  • BSU 1080/1260
  • Wright State 913/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BSU Test optional
  • Wright State Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • BSU
  • Wright State Aug 23, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BSU 14:1
  • Wright State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Wright State
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BSU 55%
  • Wright State 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BSU $42,500
  • Wright State $43,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BSU 63%
  • Wright State 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BSU $25,000
  • Wright State $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BSU $258
  • Wright State $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BSU 35%
  • Wright State 46%
  • % Women
  • BSU 65%
  • Wright State 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BSU Low
  • Wright State Medium
  • HBCU
  • BSU No
  • Wright State No
  • % White
  • BSU 81%
  • Wright State 72%
  • % Asian
  • BSU 1%
  • Wright State 2%
  • % Black
  • BSU 8%
  • Wright State 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • BSU 4%
  • Wright State 3%
  • % Native American
  • BSU 0%
  • Wright State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BSU 0%
  • Wright State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BSU 3%
  • Wright State 4%
  • % International
  • BSU 2%
  • Wright State 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BSU 1%
  • Wright State 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BSU 91%
  • Wright State 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BSU 8%
  • Wright State 4%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BSU Yes
  • Wright State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BSU No
  • Wright State No
  • Meal Plan
  • BSU Yes
  • Wright State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BSU Yes
  • Wright State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BSU Yes
  • Wright State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Ball State University in Muncie, IN with Wright State University Main Campus in Dayton, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ball State University is larger than Wright State based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 10,603 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); Wright State University Main Campus is in Dayton, OH (Large Suburban setting).
  • Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wright State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; Wright State University Main Campus 16:1.

BSU vs. Wright State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Wright State? 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 Wright State ($13,599 vs. $15,254).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wright State University Main Campus are 8.8% lower than at Ball State University ($11,250 vs. $12,334).
  • Wright State University Main Campus is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $440 more per year; $11,522.00 vs. $11,082.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.6% higher at BSU than at Wright State University Main Campus (about $8,408 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $21,222.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wright State University Main Campus than at Ball State University (92% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 47.8% larger than aid received by Wright State University Main Campus students ($13,218 vs. $8,942).

BSU vs. Wright State Admissions comparison

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

  • Wright State University Main Campus reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ball State University (1170) is 100 points higher than at Wright State (1070).
  • Incoming BSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Wright State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 1080/1260; Wright State University Main Campus 913/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 20/24; Wright State University Main Campus 17/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSU - Test optional; Wright State - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wright State Aug 23, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Wright State (3.41).
  • Wright State has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than BSU (85.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 20.4% at Wright State.

BSU vs. Wright State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and Wright State? 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 Wright State University Main Campus's (40%).
  • Graduates from Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of about $900 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,400 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wright State University Main Campus and BSU graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Wright State University Main Campus and BSU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
  • More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wright State 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.