Birmingham Southern College vs. Middle Tennessee State University

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or Middle Tennessee State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern College or Middle Tennessee State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Birmingham Southern College vs. Middle Tennessee State University comparison
Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University College 3 College 4
Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
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Overview

Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
Location Birmingham, AL Murfreesboro, TN
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 975 20,086
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #656
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu mtsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
Tuition (In State) $20,000 $7,344
Tuition (Out of State) $20,000 $26,376
Room & Board $14,000 $9,576
Avg Net Price $21,153 $13,062
Avg Grant Aid $14,163 $9,421
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,019 12,868
Admitted 1,726 9,335
Acceptance Rate 57.2% 72.5%
Enrolled % 14.1% 30%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.64
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 22/29 19/26
SAT Range 1150/1280 1020/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
Graduation Rate 62% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $42,300
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $21,758
Median Loan Payment $277 $224

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
% Men 53% 45%
% Women 47% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 64%
% Black 11% 22%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
% In-State 55% 89%
% Out-of-State 44% 11%

Campus

Birmingham Southern College Middle Tennessee State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Middle Tennessee State University is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (20,086 students vs. 975 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Middle Tennessee State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Birmingham Southern College or Middle Tennessee State University?

  • Birmingham Southern College is 172.3% more expensive to attend than Middle Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($20,000.00 vs. $7,344.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.9% higher at Middle Tennessee State University than Birmingham Southern College ($26,376.00 vs. $20,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Middle Tennessee State University than Birmingham Southern College ($13,062 vs. $21,153)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Middle Tennessee State University are 46.2% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($9,576 vs. $14,000)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College as Middle Tennessee State University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Birmingham Southern College students is 50.3% larger than aid received Middle Tennessee State University ($14,163 vs. $9,421)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Middle Tennessee State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Birmingham Southern College or Middle Tennessee State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Middle Tennessee State University or Birmingham Southern College .

  • The average SAT score at Birmingham Southern College (1167) is 136 points higher than at Middle Tennessee State University (1031)
  • Incoming Birmingham Southern College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Middle Tennessee State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Middle Tennessee State University (3.64)
  • Middle Tennessee State University has a higher acceptance rate (72.5%) than Birmingham Southern College (57.2%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Middle Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern College or Middle Tennessee State University? 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 Middle Tennessee State University and Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Birmingham Southern College is higher than Middle Tennessee State University (62% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $8,700 more per year than Middle Tennessee State University graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $42,300)
  • Middle Tennessee State University students graduate with a $5,092 lower median federal student loan debt than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($21,758 vs. $26,850)
  • Middle Tennessee State University graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($224 vs. $277)
  • More Birmingham Southern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Middle Tennessee State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/