At a glance
Average net price
$14,940
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
62.3%
Admission rate
86%
Undergrad size
13,988
In-state tuition
$11,082
Out-of-state tuition
$29,630
Cost of attendance
$26,146
Median earnings (10y)
$51,833
Admissions
- SAT average
- 1,160
- ACT midpoint
- 24
- Retention
- 77.7%
- Locale
- City
Programs breakdown
26 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by humanities & arts (31%), social sciences (27%), business (16%).
- STEM9%
- Health9%
- Business16%
- Humanities & arts31%
- Social sciences27%
- Trades & services8%
- Business16.3%~2,281 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Education12.7%~1,769 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Communication9.8%~1,368 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~1,238 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Liberal arts8.2%~1,153 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Psychology7.8%~1,085 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~842 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~603 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Architecture3.9%~550 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~516 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~411 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Social sciences2.6%~364 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~358 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Computer science2.1%~301 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- English1.6%~225 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~206 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~168 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~144 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- History0.9%~124 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~71 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~67 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Legal0.3%~43 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~34 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics0.2%~24 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~24 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~20 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching. | Master's | 2,243 | $52,267 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Graduate certificate | 1,364 | $51,095 | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Bachelor's | 375 | $29,198 | $23,443 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor's | 370 | $30,527 | $26,965 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor's | 358 | $37,922 | $24,655 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Bachelor's | 338 | $43,798 | $25,000 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 333 | $29,839 | $24,612 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 310 | $57,387 | $26,000 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 278 | $29,021 | $24,333 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor's | 263 | $38,492 | $24,998 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master's | 230 | $43,218 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor's | 226 | $34,512 | $23,367 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Master's | 225 | $75,885 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 200 | $30,565 | $25,962 |
| Marketing. | Bachelor's | 172 | $38,503 | $24,730 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master's | 170 | $58,368 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 165 | $27,629 | $25,637 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master's | 158 | $44,849 | — |
| Journalism. | Bachelor's | 154 | $31,718 | $25,675 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Bachelor's | 148 | $36,791 | $23,879 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | Bachelor's | 146 | $21,326 | $24,984 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor's | 146 | $46,474 | $24,101 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 127 | — | — |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 125 | $49,602 | $24,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master's | 122 | $46,285 | — |
| Architecture. | Bachelor's | 114 | — | $28,670 |
| Social Work. | Bachelor's | 114 | $37,657 | $23,900 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Bachelor's | 105 | — | $27,075 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor's | 103 | $33,377 | $21,550 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 103 | $25,836 | $24,750 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Bachelor's | 100 | $22,032 | $21,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate's | 94 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies. | Master's | 90 | $69,551 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master's | 90 | $95,451 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Bachelor's | 89 | $40,987 | $23,250 |
| Social Work. | Master's | 82 | — | — |
| Construction Management. | Bachelor's | 82 | $65,771 | $25,769 |
| History. | Bachelor's | 81 | $31,056 | $21,750 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor's | 78 | — | $22,000 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 76 | — | $22,054 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About Ball State University
Ball State University is a large institution located in Muncie, Indiana, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 13,988 undergraduate students in a city setting. The most popular fields of study include Business, Education, Communication.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at Ball State University — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $14,940 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $11,082 for in-state students and $29,630 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $26,146 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 62.3%, a above-average completion outcome. 77.7% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $51,833 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
Ball State University confers degrees and certificates across 26 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Business, Education, Communication. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by humanities & arts (31% of credentials), social sciences (27% of credentials), business (16% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
Ball State University accepts 86% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission. Admitted students have an average SAT score around 1,160. The ACT midpoint for admitted students is roughly 24.
Location & campus
Set in Muncie, Indiana (city), Ball State University draws students from across Indiana and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about Ball State University
Q.How much does Ball State University cost?
The average net price at Ball State University is $14,940 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $26,146.
Q.What is the graduation rate at Ball State University?
Ball State University has a 6-year graduation rate of 62.3% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into Ball State University?
Ball State University admits 86% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do Ball State University graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median Ball State University graduate earns $51,833 per year.
Q.What is tuition at Ball State University?
Published tuition is $11,082 in-state and $29,630 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is Ball State University located?
Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana (ZIP 47306).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with Ball State University at their official website.