ISU vs. BSU

Deciding between Illinois State University and Ball State University? 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.

Illinois State University
Ball State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • BSU Muncie, IN
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • BSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • BSU 21,089
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • BSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • BSU #630
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • BSU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • BSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • BSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • BSU $11,082
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • BSU $29,630
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • BSU $12,334
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • BSU $13,599
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • BSU $13,218
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • BSU 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • BSU 21,093
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • BSU 18,034
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • BSU 85.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • BSU 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • BSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • BSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • BSU 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • BSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • BSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • BSU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • BSU 20/24
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • BSU 1080/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • BSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • BSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • BSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • BSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • BSU 55%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • BSU $42,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • BSU 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • BSU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • BSU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • BSU 35%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • BSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • BSU Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • BSU No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • BSU 81%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • BSU 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • BSU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • BSU 4%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • BSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • BSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • BSU 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • BSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • BSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • BSU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • BSU 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois State University in Normal, IL with Ball State University in Muncie, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois State University is larger than BSU based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 21,089 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Ball State University is in Muncie, IN (Small City setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Ball State University 14:1.

ISU vs. BSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or BSU? 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 ISU ($13,599 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 4.7% lower than at Ball State University ($11,754 vs. $12,334).
  • Illinois State University is 45.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $5,062 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $11,082.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at BSU than at Illinois State University (about $1,420 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $28,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Ball State University (96% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 1.9% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($13,218 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. BSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ball State University (1170) is 70 points higher than at ISU (1100).
  • Incoming ISU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at BSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Ball State University 1080/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Ball State University 20/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; BSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than BSU (85.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 20.4% at BSU.

ISU vs. BSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and BSU? 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).

  • Illinois State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Ball State University's (55%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than BSU graduates ($22,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BSU graduates ($227 vs. $258).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BSU students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.