Birmingham Southern College vs. Murray State University

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or Murray State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern College or Murray State University 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
Birmingham Southern College vs. Murray State University comparison
Birmingham Southern College Murray State University College 3 College 4
Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
Location Birmingham, AL Murray, KY
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 975 9,479
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #669
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu murraystate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
Tuition (In State) $20,000 $8,196
Tuition (Out of State) $20,000 $17,652
Room & Board $14,000 $10,160
Avg Net Price $21,153 $11,042
Avg Grant Aid $14,163 $11,560
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,019 10,251
Admitted 1,726 8,609
Acceptance Rate 57.2% 84%
Enrolled % 14.1% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/29 19/26
SAT Range 1150/1280 965/1190
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

Academics

Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
Graduation Rate 62% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $40,400
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $277 $222

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
% Men 53% 37%
% Women 47% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 81%
% Black 11% 8%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
% In-State 55% 61%
% Out-of-State 44% 36%

Campus

Birmingham Southern College Murray State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Murray State University is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (9,479 students vs. 975 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Murray State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Birmingham Southern College or Murray State University?

  • Birmingham Southern College is 144% more expensive to attend than Murray State University for in-state tuition ($20,000.00 vs. $8,196.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.3% higher at Birmingham Southern College than Murray State University ($20,000.00 vs. $17,652.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Murray State University than Birmingham Southern College ($11,042 vs. $21,153)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Murray State University are 37.8% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($10,160 vs. $14,000)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College as Murray State University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Birmingham Southern College students is 22.5% larger than aid received Murray State University ($14,163 vs. $11,560)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Murray State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Birmingham Southern College or Murray State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Murray State University or Birmingham Southern College .

  • The average SAT score at Birmingham Southern College (1167) is 98 points higher than at Murray State University (1069)
  • Incoming Birmingham Southern College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Murray State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Murray State University (3.57)
  • Murray State University has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than Birmingham Southern College (57.2%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Murray State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern College or Murray State University? 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 Murray State University and Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Birmingham Southern College is higher than Murray State University (62% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $10,600 more per year than Murray State University graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $40,400)
  • Murray State University students graduate with a $5,350 lower median federal student loan debt than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,850)
  • Murray State University graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($222 vs. $277)
  • More Birmingham Southern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Murray State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 57%)

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