Oakland University (OU) vs Ball State

Oakland University and Ball State University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Oakland University, nestled in Rochester, Michigan, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. Ball State University, located in Muncie, Indiana, stands out with its broader range of undergraduate programs, catering to diverse academic interests. While Oakland University excels in engineering and nursing, Ball State University shines in business and journalism. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further distinctions, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and additional program offerings, to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Ball State University logo

Ball State University

Oakland University logo

Oakland University

Overview

Location Muncie, Indiana Rochester Hills, Michigan
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 73.0% 73.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 68.2% 92.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
$45
SAT range 1010 - 1210 970 - 1230
ACT range 20 - 27 21 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 42.0% 60.0%
Students submitting ACT score 13.0% 10.0%
Total number of applicants 22,947 10,645
Total number of admissions given out 15,642 9,803
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,278 2,025
Yield rate 21.0% 20.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $25,254

Out of state: $42,488
In state: $27,222

Out of state: $37,996
Average net price $12,968 $14,316
Tuition
In state: $9,628

Out of state: $26,862
In state: $13,934

Out of state: $24,708
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,862

Meal plan: $6,282
$10,639
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

86.0%
Average amount $11,442
90.0%
Average amount $10,413
Students receiving federal student loan 88.0%
Average amount $5,451
40.0%
Average amount $4,896
Students taking out private loans 11.0%
Average amount $13,381
3.0%
Average amount $11,832

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 14,898
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
13,771
Men 42.1% Women 57.9%
Graduate students 5,421
Men 23.0% Women 77.0%
3,399
Men 43.2% Women 56.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 9.4% 2.5%
International students 1.4% 4.6%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 7,531 3,330
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Indiana Illinois Ohio Michigan Florida Michigan Ohio Texas Florida Wisconsin

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 14:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 68.0% 56.1%
Dropout rate 11.4% 30.4%
Transferred out 20.1% 8.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,451
  • Year 2: $92,124
  • Year 3: $94,146
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,551
  • Year 2: $75,989
  • Year 3: $81,236
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,545
  • Year 2: $63,997
  • Year 3: $77,057
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,885
  • Year 2: $65,610
  • Year 3: $75,003
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,368
  • Year 2: $53,108
  • Year 3: $65,967
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,067
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $64,046
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,195
  • Year 2: $54,296
  • Year 3: $63,441
Business/Commerce, General (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $62,410
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,157
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $60,714
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,299
  • Year 2: $52,357
  • Year 3: $59,898
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,063
  • Year 2: $104,510
  • Year 3: $111,195
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,486
  • Year 2: $103,078
  • Year 3: $104,636
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,963
  • Year 2: $96,829
  • Year 3: $102,429
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,366
  • Year 2: $89,412
  • Year 3: $100,527
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,453
  • Year 2: $80,858
  • Year 3: $88,542
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,313
  • Year 2: $78,488
  • Year 3: $85,248
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,319
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $82,466
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,808
  • Year 2: $76,962
  • Year 3: $82,235
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,652
  • Year 2: $68,305
  • Year 3: $78,387
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,648
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $75,775

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