University of St Francis vs. BSU

Deciding between University of St Francis and Ball State University? 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.

University of St Francis
Ball State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of St Francis Joliet, IL
  • BSU Muncie, IN
  • Setting
  • University of St Francis Midsize City
  • BSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of St Francis 3,074
  • BSU 21,089
  • Type
  • University of St Francis Private 4 Year
  • BSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of St Francis #355
  • BSU #630
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of St Francis Roman Catholic
  • BSU -
  • Status
  • University of St Francis Non-profit
  • BSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of St Francis
  • BSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of St Francis $38,110
  • BSU $11,082
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of St Francis $38,110
  • BSU $29,630
  • Room & Board
  • University of St Francis $11,980
  • BSU $12,334
  • Average Net Price
  • University of St Francis $14,045
  • BSU $13,599
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of St Francis $31,998
  • BSU $13,218
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of St Francis 100%
  • BSU 77%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of St Francis 2,250
  • BSU 21,093
  • Admitted
  • University of St Francis 1,469
  • BSU 18,034
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of St Francis 65.3%
  • BSU 85.5%
  • Enrolled
  • University of St Francis 14.2%
  • BSU 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of St Francis 1130
  • BSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of St Francis 26
  • BSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of St Francis 3.47
  • BSU 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of St Francis B+
  • BSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of St Francis Challenging
  • BSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of St Francis Low
  • BSU
  • ACT Range
  • University of St Francis 20/32
  • BSU 20/24
  • SAT Range
  • University of St Francis 1030/1220
  • BSU 1080/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of St Francis Test optional
  • BSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of St Francis Aug 1, 2027
  • BSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of St Francis 15:1
  • BSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of St Francis
    • Health Professions (41%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • BSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of St Francis 63%
  • BSU 55%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of St Francis $50,600
  • BSU $42,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of St Francis 62%
  • BSU 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of St Francis $25,000
  • BSU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of St Francis $258
  • BSU $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of St Francis 27%
  • BSU 35%
  • % Women
  • University of St Francis 73%
  • BSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of St Francis Medium
  • BSU Low
  • HBCU
  • University of St Francis No
  • BSU No
  • % White
  • University of St Francis 67%
  • BSU 81%
  • % Asian
  • University of St Francis 2%
  • BSU 1%
  • % Black
  • University of St Francis 8%
  • BSU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of St Francis 16%
  • BSU 4%
  • % Native American
  • University of St Francis 0%
  • BSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of St Francis 0%
  • BSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of St Francis 3%
  • BSU 3%
  • % International
  • University of St Francis 2%
  • BSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of St Francis 1%
  • BSU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of St Francis 91%
  • BSU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of St Francis 9%
  • BSU 8%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • BSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of St Francis No
  • BSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • BSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of St Francis Yes
  • BSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of St Francis No
  • BSU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of St Francis in Joliet, IL with Ball State University in Muncie, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ball State University is larger than University of St Francis based on total student enrollment (21,089 students vs. 3,074 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of St Francis is located in Joliet, IL (Midsize City setting); Ball State University is in Muncie, IN (Small City setting).
  • University of St Francis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ball State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of St Francis 15:1; Ball State University 14:1.

University of St Francis vs. BSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of St Francis or BSU? 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 University of St Francis ($13,599 vs. $14,045).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of St Francis are 2.9% lower than at Ball State University ($11,980 vs. $12,334).
  • University of St Francis is 243.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSU (about $27,028 more per year; $38,110.00 vs. $11,082.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at University of St Francis than at Ball State University (about $8,480 more per year; $38,110.00 vs. $29,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of St Francis than at Ball State University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Francis students is 142.1% larger than aid received by Ball State University students ($31,998 vs. $13,218).

University of St Francis vs. BSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of St Francis or BSU? 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 BSU and University of St Francis.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ball State University (1170) is 40 points higher than at University of St Francis (1130).
  • Incoming University of St Francis students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at BSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of St Francis 1030/1220; Ball State University 1080/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of St Francis 20/32; Ball State University 20/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of St Francis - Test optional; BSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of St Francis Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BSU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at University of St Francis (3.47).
  • BSU has a higher acceptance rate (85.5%) than University of St Francis (65.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at University of St Francis vs. 20.4% at BSU.

University of St Francis vs. BSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of St Francis and BSU? 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).

  • University of St Francis's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Ball State University's (55%).
  • Graduates from University of St Francis earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than BSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ball State University and University of St Francis graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Ball State University and University of St Francis graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
  • More BSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of St Francis 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.