University of Illinois Springfield vs. BSU

Deciding between University of Illinois Springfield 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.

University of Illinois Springfield
Ball State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, IL
  • BSU Muncie, IN
  • Setting
  • University of Illinois Springfield Midsize City
  • BSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Illinois Springfield 4,628
  • BSU 21,089
  • Type
  • University of Illinois Springfield Public 4 Year
  • BSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Illinois Springfield #474
  • BSU #630
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Illinois Springfield -
  • BSU -
  • Status
  • University of Illinois Springfield Non-profit
  • BSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Illinois Springfield
  • BSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Illinois Springfield $12,252
  • BSU $11,082
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Illinois Springfield $22,017
  • BSU $29,630
  • Room & Board
  • University of Illinois Springfield $12,242
  • BSU $12,334
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Illinois Springfield $10,809
  • BSU $13,599
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Illinois Springfield $14,666
  • BSU $13,218
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Illinois Springfield 96%
  • BSU 77%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Illinois Springfield 2,430
  • BSU 21,093
  • Admitted
  • University of Illinois Springfield 2,087
  • BSU 18,034
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Illinois Springfield 85.9%
  • BSU 85.5%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Illinois Springfield 12.6%
  • BSU 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Illinois Springfield 1070
  • BSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Illinois Springfield 24
  • BSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Illinois Springfield 3.46
  • BSU 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Illinois Springfield B+
  • BSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Illinois Springfield Moderate
  • BSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Illinois Springfield
  • BSU
  • ACT Range
  • University of Illinois Springfield 21/27
  • BSU 20/24
  • SAT Range
  • University of Illinois Springfield 940/1200
  • BSU 1080/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Illinois Springfield Test optional
  • BSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Illinois Springfield
  • BSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Illinois Springfield 13:1
  • BSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Illinois Springfield
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • BSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Illinois Springfield 61%
  • BSU 55%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Illinois Springfield $47,500
  • BSU $42,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Illinois Springfield 59%
  • BSU 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Illinois Springfield $18,793
  • BSU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Illinois Springfield $194
  • BSU $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Illinois Springfield 47%
  • BSU 35%
  • % Women
  • University of Illinois Springfield 53%
  • BSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Illinois Springfield Medium
  • BSU Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Illinois Springfield No
  • BSU No
  • % White
  • University of Illinois Springfield 63%
  • BSU 81%
  • % Asian
  • University of Illinois Springfield 4%
  • BSU 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Illinois Springfield 16%
  • BSU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Illinois Springfield 7%
  • BSU 4%
  • % Native American
  • University of Illinois Springfield 0%
  • BSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Illinois Springfield 0%
  • BSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Illinois Springfield 3%
  • BSU 3%
  • % International
  • University of Illinois Springfield 5%
  • BSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Illinois Springfield 3%
  • BSU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Illinois Springfield 86%
  • BSU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Illinois Springfield 9%
  • BSU 8%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Illinois Springfield Yes
  • BSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Illinois Springfield No
  • BSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Illinois Springfield Yes
  • BSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Illinois Springfield Yes
  • BSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Illinois Springfield Yes
  • BSU Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Ball State University is larger than University of Illinois Springfield based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 4,628 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Springfield is located in Springfield, IL (Midsize City setting); Ball State University is in Muncie, IN (Small City setting).
  • University of Illinois Springfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Illinois Springfield 13:1; Ball State University 14:1.

University of Illinois Springfield vs. BSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Illinois Springfield 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 University of Illinois Springfield than BSU ($10,809 vs. $13,599).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Springfield are 0.7% lower than at Ball State University ($12,242 vs. $12,334).
  • University of Illinois Springfield is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $1,170 more per year; $12,252.00 vs. $11,082.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at BSU than at University of Illinois Springfield (about $7,613 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $22,017.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Illinois Springfield than at Ball State University (96% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Springfield students is 11% larger than aid received by Ball State University students ($14,666 vs. $13,218).

University of Illinois Springfield vs. BSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Illinois Springfield 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 University of Illinois Springfield.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ball State University (1170) is 100 points higher than at University of Illinois Springfield (1070).
  • Incoming University of Illinois Springfield 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: University of Illinois Springfield 940/1200; Ball State University 1080/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Springfield 21/27; Ball State University 20/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Illinois Springfield - Test optional; BSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at University of Illinois Springfield (3.46).
  • University of Illinois Springfield has a higher acceptance rate (85.9%) than BSU (85.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at University of Illinois Springfield vs. 20.4% at BSU.

University of Illinois Springfield vs. BSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Illinois Springfield 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).

  • University of Illinois Springfield's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Ball State University's (55%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Springfield earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Springfield graduates have a $6,207 lower median loan debt than BSU graduates ($18,793 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Illinois Springfield graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BSU graduates ($194 vs. $258).
  • More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Illinois Springfield students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 59%)

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.