Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana · Public · 85.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Ball State University scores 54 (Below Average Value) on CampusROI. The institutional headline metrics are unimpressive: 62.3% six-year completion rate, average 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. 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 |
| Average 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 first number you'll see is the sticker price: $11,082/year ($29,630/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $14,940/year, or roughly $59,760 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,834/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,479/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,300) and comes to 0.66, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 average 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. Ball State costs $17,000 - $19,000 per year.
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.
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.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Ball State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
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 score is 54 and its completion rate is 62.3%.
| 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 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Ball State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
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. The 34.7% Pell rate indicates moderate lower-income access.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Ball State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $14,940 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,833 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Ball State University: Common Questions
Is Ball State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Ball State University scores 54/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,940 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $51,833 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Ball State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,940 a year, or roughly $59,760 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Ball State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,833 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,033 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Ball State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.9 years for Ball State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Ball State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $35,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Ball State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 62.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.