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Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$14,940What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
86%
Graduation rate
63%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
13,988
In-state tuition
$11,082Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$29,630
SAT midpoint
1,110
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$51,833Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$14,940

Better than 48% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

63%

Better than 73% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$51,833

Better than 40% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$23,250

Better than 24% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$26,146

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$14,940

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Ball State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time63%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return78%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$23,250
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$51,833

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Ball State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$73,719151
Construction Management$69,07648
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$67,83310
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$67,35032
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations$65,18425
Business Administration, Management and Operations$60,52633
Landscape Architecture$59,97221
Computer and Information Sciences, General$59,249Not reported
Real Estate$58,57512
Architecture$57,60356
Economics$56,78236
Accounting and Related Services$56,10157
Management Information Systems and Services$53,59722
Business/Managerial Economics$53,319Not reported
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians$51,2196
Finance and Financial Management Services$50,07769
Insurance$48,61517
Special Education and Teaching$47,49939
Human Resources Management and Services$47,45123
Business/Commerce, General$46,550164
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$46,347129
Chemistry$42,67717
Marketing$42,48075
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$41,821189
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$41,60315
Criminal Justice and Corrections$39,991104
Political Science and Government$39,75523
Legal Professions and Studies, Other$39,22031
Social Work$39,09460
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$38,02064
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$37,63844
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$37,55321
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$36,9208
Design and Applied Arts$36,86446
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations$35,90426
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$35,50093
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$35,269199
Geography and Cartography$34,27413
Biology, General$34,248141
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$34,00026
Communication and Media Studies$33,81542
Sociology$32,97321
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$32,83629
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$32,118178
Journalism$31,39869
Psychology, General$31,305189
Dance$28,83814
History$28,44447
Fine and Studio Arts$28,40584
Hospitality Administration/Management$28,07110
English Language and Literature, General$26,57247
Anthropology$24,45231
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$23,74872
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyNot reported60
Computer ScienceNot reported54
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesNot reported43
MusicNot reported18
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementNot reported18
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported12
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesNot reported12
City/Urban, Community, and Regional PlanningNot reported10
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot reported10
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/TechniciansNot reported9
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported8
PhilosophyNot reported8
PhysicsNot reported8
International BusinessNot reported7
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported6
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported5
MathematicsNot reported4
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported3
Data AnalyticsNot reported3
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementNot reported2
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reported2
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported2
Environmental DesignNot reported1
Astronomy and AstrophysicsNot reported1
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansNot reportedNot reported
Public HealthNot reportedNot reported
Area StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory ProgramsNot reportedNot reported
Graphic CommunicationsNot reportedNot reported
Apparel and TextilesNot reportedNot reported
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/TechniciansNot reportedNot reported
Architectural Sciences and TechnologyNot reportedNot reported
Engineering, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Non-Professional Legal StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Architecture and Related Services, OtherNot reportedNot reported

All 90 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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