Birmingham Southern College vs. Memphis

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or University of Memphis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern College or Memphis 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. University of Memphis comparison
Birmingham Southern College University of Memphis College 3 College 4
Birmingham Southern College University of Memphis
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Overview

Birmingham Southern College Memphis
Location Birmingham, AL Memphis, TN
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 975 21,917
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #883
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu memphis.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College Memphis
Tuition (In State) $20,000 $8,352
Tuition (Out of State) $20,000 $12,576
Room & Board $14,000 $10,126
Avg Net Price $21,153 $13,873
Avg Grant Aid $14,163 $9,625
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College Memphis
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,019 15,767
Admitted 1,726 14,916
Acceptance Rate 57.2% 94.6%
Enrolled % 14.1% 16.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.48
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/29 17/24
SAT Range 1150/1280 930/1230
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Birmingham Southern College Memphis
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College Memphis
Graduation Rate 62% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $25,250
Median Loan Payment $277 $261

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College Memphis
% Men 53% 40%
% Women 47% 60%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 79% 50%
% Black 11% 37%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Birmingham Southern College Memphis
% In-State 55% 81%
% Out-of-State 44% 17%

Campus

Birmingham Southern College Memphis
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

  • University of Memphis is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (21,917 students vs. 975 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Memphis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Birmingham Southern College or Memphis?

  • Birmingham Southern College is 139.5% more expensive to attend than Memphis for in-state tuition ($20,000.00 vs. $8,352.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 59% higher at Birmingham Southern College than University of Memphis ($20,000.00 vs. $12,576.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Memphis than Birmingham Southern College ($13,873 vs. $21,153)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 38.3% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($10,126 vs. $14,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College than University of Memphis (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Birmingham Southern College students is 47.1% larger than aid received University of Memphis ($14,163 vs. $9,625)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Memphis Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Birmingham Southern College (1167) is 138 points higher than at Memphis (1029)
  • Incoming Birmingham Southern College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Memphis (22)
  • Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Memphis (3.48)
  • Memphis has a higher acceptance rate (94.6%) than Birmingham Southern College (57.2%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern College or Memphis? 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 Memphis and Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Birmingham Southern College is higher than University of Memphis (62% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $8,800 more per year than Memphis graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $42,200)
  • University of Memphis students graduate with a $1,600 lower median federal student loan debt than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($25,250 vs. $26,850)
  • Memphis graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($261 vs. $277)
  • More Birmingham Southern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 37%)

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