Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Illinois University

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or Southern Illinois University Carbondale? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern College or Southern Illinois 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.

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Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Illinois University Carbondale comparison
Birmingham Southern College Southern Illinois University Carbondale College 3 College 4
Birmingham Southern College Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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Overview

Birmingham Southern College Southern Illinois University
Location Birmingham, AL Carbondale, IL
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 975 11,107
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #467
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu siuc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College Southern Illinois University
Tuition (In State) $20,000 $9,638
Tuition (Out of State) $20,000 $9,638
Room & Board $14,000 $10,622
Avg Net Price $21,153 $16,990
Avg Grant Aid $14,163 $11,269
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College Southern Illinois University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,019 9,771
Admitted 1,726 8,940
Acceptance Rate 57.2% 91.5%
Enrolled % 14.1% 17%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.24
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/29 19/27
SAT Range 1150/1280 900/1140
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 Southern Illinois University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College Southern Illinois University
Graduation Rate 62% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 51%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $277 $232

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College Southern Illinois University
% Men 53% 49%
% Women 47% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 64%
% Black 11% 19%
% Hispanic 2% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Birmingham Southern College Southern Illinois University
% In-State 55% 81%
% Out-of-State 44% 17%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (11,107 students vs. 975 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Illinois University Cost Comparison

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

  • Birmingham Southern College is 107.5% more expensive to attend than Southern Illinois University for in-state tuition ($20,000.00 vs. $9,638.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 107.5% higher at Birmingham Southern College than Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($20,000.00 vs. $9,638.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than Birmingham Southern College ($16,990 vs. $21,153)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are 31.8% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($10,622 vs. $14,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Birmingham Southern College students is 25.7% larger than aid received Southern Illinois University Carbondale ($14,163 vs. $11,269)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Illinois University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Birmingham Southern College (1167) is 135 points higher than at Southern Illinois University (1032)
  • Incoming Birmingham Southern College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Southern Illinois University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Southern Illinois University (3.24)
  • Southern Illinois University has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than Birmingham Southern College (57.2%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Southern Illinois University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern College or Southern Illinois 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 Southern Illinois University and Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Birmingham Southern College is higher than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (62% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $3,200 more per year than Southern Illinois University graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $47,800)
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale students graduate with a $4,350 lower median federal student loan debt than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,850)
  • Southern Illinois University graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Birmingham Southern College graduates. ($232 vs. $277)
  • More Birmingham Southern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 51%)

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