BSU vs. GVSU

Should I go to Ball State University or Grand Valley State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BSU or GVSU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Michigan State WMU CMU Oakland Ferris State University Saginaw Valley State University WSU Purdue North Central Michigan IU Purdue Hope College
Ball State University vs. Grand Valley State University comparison
Ball State University Grand Valley State University College 3 College 4
Ball State University Grand Valley State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

BSU GVSU
Location Muncie, IN Allendale, MI
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 19,777 21,648
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #547 #583
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsu.edu gvsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BSU GVSU
Tuition (In State) $8,434 $13,952
Tuition (Out of State) $25,918 $19,856
Room & Board $10,904 $10,140
Avg Net Price $12,615 $17,105
Avg Grant Aid $11,418 $8,811
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 93%

Admission

BSU GVSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,859 17,123
Admitted 15,761 15,474
Acceptance Rate 68.9% 90.4%
Enrolled % 22.1% 25%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 3.65
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/28 21/27
SAT Range 1090/1260 960/1210
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 May 1, 2024

Academics

BSU GVSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

BSU GVSU
Graduation Rate 55% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $258

Diversity

BSU GVSU
% Men 35% 38%
% Women 65% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 83%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

BSU GVSU
% In-State 90% 91%
% Out-of-State 9% 8%

Campus

BSU GVSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Grand Valley State University is larger than than BSU based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 19,777 students)

BSU vs. GVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or GVSU?

  • Grand Valley State University is 65.4% more expensive to attend than BSU for in-state tuition ($13,952.00 vs. $8,434.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.5% higher at BSU than Grand Valley State University ($25,918.00 vs. $19,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ball State University than GVSU ($12,615 vs. $17,105)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 7.5% lower than costs at Ball State University ($10,140 vs. $10,904)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ball State University than Grand Valley State University (97% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 29.6% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($11,418 vs. $8,811)

BSU vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 20 points higher than at BSU (1070)
  • Incoming GVSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at BSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at BSU (3.52)
  • GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than BSU (68.9%)

BSU vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BSU or GVSU? 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 GVSU and BSU.

  • The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Ball State University (63% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $2,100 more per year than BSU graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $42,500)
  • Grand Valley State University and BSU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Grand Valley State University and BSU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
  • More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GVSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)

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