Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana · Public · 85.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Ball State University scores 54 (Below Average Value) on CampusROI — a middling result for a mid-size Indiana public university that conceals a wide internal range. The institutional headline metrics are unimpressive: 62.3% six-year completion rate, median 6-year earnings of $35,300, and a payback period of 11.9 years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.659 is acceptable in isolation, but the payback period places Ball State in the bottom half of the national comparison set. Net price of $14,940 against in-state tuition of $11,082 indicates room and board and fees add substantially to cost. The 74.1% three-year repayment rate is adequate. The 34.7% Pell rate reflects moderate lower-income enrollment. With 13,988 students and 85.5% admission, Ball State is broadly accessible. SAT mid-ranges (530–620 Math, 550–640 Reading) and ACT 20–24 indicate a mid-range academic profile. Program-level data reveals the real story: Management Sciences, Nursing, and Construction Management are strong ROI programs with A- and B-grade outcomes, while Ball State's large media and creative arts programs — Drama/Theatre (72 graduates, F-grade, DTR 1.052), Radio/TV (178 graduates, D), Journalism (69 graduates, D), Fine Arts (84 graduates, D) — are among the weakest ROI tracks in the institution and drive down average outcomes. Ball State's national reputation in journalism and telecommunications means its media programs attract large cohorts whose Scorecard outcomes do not support the tuition investment.
Ball State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,082/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,630/yr |
| Average net price | $14,940/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $59,760 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,833 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 62.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 13,988 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Ball State University is $11,082/year ($29,630/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $14,940/year, or roughly $59,760 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $7,834/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,479/year.
The median graduate leaves with $23,250 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $246 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $51,833 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.66 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,834 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,848 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,333 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,567 |
| $110,001+ | $23,479 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $10,760 per year at Ball State — below the $11,082 in-state sticker, indicating grant aid is covering tuition and then some for the lowest-income bracket. Over four years, roughly $43,000 total. Against $35,300 median earnings and an 11.9-year payback, Ball State is a manageable but not inexpensive choice for lower-income Indiana students. The payback math is significantly better for students in nursing or management than for the media and arts programs that attract many first-generation applicants.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001–75,000 bracket pays $17,254 per year; the $75,001–110,000 bracket pays $18,736 — the price climbs as income rises, which is expected. At $17,000–$19,000 per year, Ball State is moderately priced for a residential public university. The 11.9-year payback period is acceptable in the context of Indiana public options but should be benchmarked against Indiana University and Purdue, which have higher completion rates and stronger earnings profiles at comparable price points.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $22,459 per year — in the range of full-price at a public institution. For higher-income families, Ball State's value proposition depends entirely on the student's program. Management Sciences, Nursing, and Construction Management justify the investment; four years of media or theater education at $90,000 total cost against $23,000–$25,000 year-one earnings does not.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Ball State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $49,657 | D |
| Teacher Education | $48,344 | C |
| Psychology | $48,421 | D |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $47,737 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $67,141 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $76,161 | B |
| Biology | $55,097 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $50,260 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,997 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,053 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Management Sciences
Management Sciences is Ball State's highest-performing program: 32 graduates, A-grade, $67,350 median earnings at year one, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.247 — median debt of roughly $16,600 against strong earnings. This is among the strongest quantitative outcomes at Ball State and reflects a selective, applied program. Students who can access this track get a genuinely strong return at Ball State's in-state price.
Nursing
Nursing is Ball State's largest high-earning program by graduate count: 151 graduates, B-grade, $73,719 median year-one earnings. The B grade reflects moderate debt levels against strong earnings. Year-four earnings are not separately reported for this cohort, but the year-one figure is competitive with regional nursing programs. For pre-nursing students, Ball State's program offers a credible path to healthcare employment at an in-state public price.
Construction Management
Construction Management produces 48 graduates at Ball State with a B-grade ROI and $69,076 year-one median earnings. This is a strong vocational program with clear employment pathways into the construction and real estate sectors. The program performs well above Ball State's institutional average and represents one of its better ROI options for students interested in the trades and project management.
Drama and Theatre Arts
Drama/Theatre at Ball State enrolls a significant cohort — 72 graduates — but produces an F-grade ROI with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.052 and median year-one earnings of only $23,748. Median debt exceeds annual earnings. Ball State's theater program has regional recognition, but the Scorecard outcome is unambiguous: most graduates will struggle to service debt on theater-field incomes. Prospective students should model their expected debt load against realistic earnings before choosing this path at a four-year sticker price.
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Radio/TV is Ball State's second-largest creative program at 178 graduates — and one of its weakest ROI tracks, earning a D-grade. Ball State's telecommunications program has national recognition, but Scorecard earnings data does not support the reputation in financial terms: D-grade outcomes mean the graduate cohort is earning wages that only marginally justify debt levels. Students attracted to Ball State specifically for its journalism and media identity should compare outcomes at alternatives where media credentials translate to better earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 85.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-24 |
| Enrollment | 13,988 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,408 |
Ball State admits 85.5% of applicants. SAT mid-range is 530–620 Math, 550–640 Reading; ACT composite 20–24. The institution is broadly accessible. Given wide program-level outcome variation, prospective students should research their intended major specifically: programs in health sciences, management, and engineering technology have meaningfully better ROI than media and arts programs at the same tuition price.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Ball State's peer set includes Illinois State University, Eastern Michigan University, and comparable regional public universities. Among this peer group, Ball State's 54 score and 62.3% completion rate are middling — better than some regional publics with lower selectivity but trailing peers with stronger STEM and health science concentrations. The program-level divergence between Ball State's healthcare and management tracks (strong) and its media and arts tracks (weak) is more pronounced than most peer institutions, where outcomes tend to cluster more tightly around the institutional median. Ball State's national media reputation may attract students whose outcomes the Scorecard consistently rates below the institutional average.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State University (this school) | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | 67 | $11,668 | $55,198 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | 55 | $18,749 | $54,501 |
| Montana State University | 52 | $22,499 | $53,263 |
| Western Michigan University | 50 | $15,273 | $53,562 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | 35 | $13,171 | $45,872 |
Who Thrives Here
Ball State admits 85.5% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 530–620 Math and 550–640 Reading; ACT composite 20–24. At 13,988 students, it is a mid-size public university in Muncie, Indiana, with strong programs in nursing, construction management, and applied business. Students targeting health sciences, engineering technology, and business with clear career outcomes will find Ball State a cost-effective public option. Students drawn to media, journalism, telecommunications, or creative arts — historically Ball State's flagship identity — face below-average earnings outcomes relative to debt and should compare alternatives carefully. The 34.7% Pell rate indicates moderate lower-income access.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Ball State University is mixed. At $14,940 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $51,833 ten years after entry - a payback period of 11.9 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $23,250 against $51,833 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.