BSU vs. Purdue

Deciding between Ball State University and Purdue University Main Campus? 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.

Ball State University
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BSU Muncie, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • BSU Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BSU 21,089
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • BSU Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BSU #630
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BSU -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • BSU Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BSU
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BSU $11,082
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BSU $29,630
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • BSU $12,334
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • BSU $13,599
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BSU $13,218
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BSU 77%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BSU 21,093
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • BSU 18,034
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BSU 85.5%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • BSU 20.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BSU 1170
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • BSU 22
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BSU 3.52
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BSU A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BSU Moderate
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BSU
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • BSU 20/24
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • BSU 1080/1260
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BSU Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • BSU
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BSU 14:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BSU 55%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BSU $42,500
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BSU 63%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BSU $25,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BSU $258
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BSU 35%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • BSU 65%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BSU Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • BSU No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • BSU 81%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • BSU 1%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • BSU 8%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • BSU 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • BSU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BSU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BSU 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • BSU 2%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BSU 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BSU 91%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BSU 8%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ball State University in Muncie, IN with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than BSU based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 21,089 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

BSU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or Purdue? 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 Purdue ($13,599 vs. $13,722).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 3.8% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,334 vs. $12,820).
  • Ball State University is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $1,090 more per year; $11,082.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at BSU than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $836 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ball State University than at Purdue University Main Campus (77% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 17% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($13,218 vs. $11,294).

BSU vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 170 points higher than at BSU (1170).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 22 at BSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 1080/1260; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 20/24; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSU - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at BSU (3.52).
  • BSU has a higher acceptance rate (85.5%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

BSU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and Purdue? 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).

  • Purdue University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Ball State University's (55%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $18,700 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than BSU graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BSU graduates ($222 vs. $258).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BSU students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.