Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Small city

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana. 13,988 undergraduates. Admits 86% of applicants.

62%Graduation rate7 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$13,877Average net price per year30% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$56,674Median earnings 10 years after starting4% below the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$20,500Median debt at graduation5% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($20,500) equals 36% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($56,674).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$8,013
$30,000–$48,000$7,780
$48,001–$75,000$10,537
$75,001–$110,000$16,425
Over $110,000$23,618

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $11,082 in-state, $29,630 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate62%54%
Return for second year78%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$48,437$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$56,674$58,912
Median debt at graduation$20,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

174 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Construction Management41$76,026$96,860$24,000
Management Information Systems and Services18$55,265$91,072$20,500
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods19$61,100$86,426$19,772
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations13$57,265$86,156$18,500
Finance and Financial Management Services66$51,243$83,547$19,400
Accounting and Related Services43$60,828$82,609$20,250
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing159$77,878$76,038$24,155
Business Administration, Management and Operations9$64,506$75,719$26,470
Chemistry18$46,417$71,697—
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs25$28,417$71,012$21,331
Business/Commerce, General154$51,357$69,604$19,500
Architecture84$60,869$68,143$29,290
Landscape Architecture17$62,056$67,957$29,249
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication64$42,818$67,710$21,500
Human Resources Management and Services18$50,957$67,706$26,500
Marketing71$47,957$65,369$19,528
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning11—$64,660—
Computer Science43$64,021—$26,998
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions9—$62,157—
Legal Professions and Studies, Other9$36,779$61,759$21,375
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services40—$60,952$18,645
Political Science and Government21$30,662$60,902$24,970
Biology, General128$36,897$59,766$24,567
Criminal Justice and Corrections94$43,604$59,091$21,411
Journalism50$41,202$58,627$18,925
Communication and Media Studies31$41,059$56,467$21,622
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness106$38,368$56,416$24,046
Natural Resources Conservation and Research15$46,393$56,072$15,531
Economics23$55,486—$19,500
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians1$55,449—$21,135
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication165$37,997$55,034$19,500
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services11—$54,777—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics10$37,497$54,393$14,489
Geography and Cartography6$45,410$54,276—
Insurance10$54,205——
Real Estate9$53,529——
History35$27,321$52,723$19,364
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas139$47,611$51,202$21,467
Psychology, General178$34,969$50,947$19,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities205$37,977$49,987$22,380
Social Work75$40,789$49,886$18,755
Special Education and Teaching54$47,484$49,870$21,870
Hospitality Administration/Management18$43,829$49,623$24,095
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods169$46,703$49,180$18,500
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services31$39,736$47,977$22,459
Fine and Studio Arts38$31,189$46,504$24,031
Sociology17$36,498$46,239$22,777
Design and Applied Arts51$45,159—$21,876
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations23$44,717—$20,840
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft62$29,486$44,084$22,800
Anthropology16$31,093$43,238$22,250
Music16—$42,761$24,250
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General15$41,516—$23,250
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology59$40,594—$30,508
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians8$38,739——
English Language and Literature, General49$26,820$38,379$20,284
Environmental Design3———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies9———
Graphic Communications27——$26,833
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management22———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics7———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics3———
Mathematics5———
Data Analytics5———
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management2———
Philosophy6———
Religion/Religious Studies2———
Astronomy and Astrophysics5———
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology7———
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences8———
Physics9———
Dance15———
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations7———
International Business4———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

86%Admission rate
1,160Average SAT of admitted students
20–24ACT middle 50%
14:1Students per faculty member
38%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Ball State University cost per year?
The average net price at Ball State University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $13,877 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Ball State University graduates earn?
Former Ball State University students earn a median of $56,674 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Ball State University?
62% of Ball State University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Ball State University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Ball State University is $20,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.