BSU vs. UT Arlington

Comparable Facts

Compare Ball State University in Muncie, IN with The University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Arlington is larger than BSU based on total student enrollment (44,956 students vs. 21,089 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (Small City setting); The University of Texas at Arlington is in Arlington, TX (Large City setting).
• Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ball State University 14:1; The University of Texas at Arlington 23:1.

BSU vs. UT Arlington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSU or UT Arlington? 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 UT Arlington ($13,599 vs. $13,755).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Arlington are 9% lower than at Ball State University ($11,228 vs. $12,334).
• The University of Texas at Arlington is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $868 more per year; $11,950.00 vs. $11,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at BSU than at The University of Texas at Arlington (about $48 more per year; $29,630.00 vs. $29,582.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Arlington than at Ball State University (88% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 9% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Arlington students ($13,218 vs. $12,127).

BSU vs. UT Arlington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ball State University (1170) is 40 points higher than at UT Arlington (1130).
• Incoming UT Arlington students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at BSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 1080/1260; The University of Texas at Arlington 1010/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ball State University 20/24; The University of Texas at Arlington 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSU - Test optional; UT Arlington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UT Arlington Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at UT Arlington (3.43).
• BSU has a higher acceptance rate (85.5%) than UT Arlington (79.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at BSU vs. 26.4% at UT Arlington.

BSU vs. UT Arlington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSU and UT Arlington? 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).

• Ball State University's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than The University of Texas at Arlington's (40%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at Arlington earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,700 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at Arlington graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than BSU graduates ($18,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UT Arlington graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BSU graduates ($186 vs. $258).
• More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Arlington students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 56%)

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.