Ball State University
Ball State University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Ball State University at a Glance
Ball State University is a public research university in Muncie, Indiana, United States. The university has three off-campus centers in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Fishers, Indiana. The university is composed of ten academic colleges. As of 2023, the university enrolled about 20,400 students with 14,900 undergraduates and 5,500 graduate and doctoral students. The university offers about 120 undergraduate majors and 130 minor areas of study and more than 100 masters, doctoral, certificate, and …
1918
108 years old
$411M
$411 million (2024)
20,440
14,874 undergrad · 5,566 grad
1,245
1,140 acres
Identity
Is Ball State University Worth It?
Ball State University offers moderate value at $14,940/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $51,833, which is 4% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 63% graduation rate means roughly 37% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Ball State University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #47 of 135 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #3 | California State University-Fresno | 100 | $7,000 | $61,244 |
| #4 | California State University-Los Angeles | 100 | $3,967 | $59,211 |
| #5 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #6 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #47 | Ball State University | 54 | $14,940 | $51,833 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Ball State University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in IN.
Best Programs at Ball State University
The highest-earning program at Ball State University is Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at $60,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $18,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods graduate from Ball State University earns $60,900, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $18,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods graduates carry $22,615 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,940/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $60,900 | $60,900 | $22,615 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $55,400 | $55,400 | $27,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $53,100 | $53,100 | $26,140 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $51,900 | $51,900 | $21,500 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $50,500 | $50,500 | $25,481 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,000 | $46,000 | $23,250 |
| Landscape Architecture | $45,100 | $45,100 | $30,062 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $42,600 | $42,600 | $23,250 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,600 | $41,600 | $25,313 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $39,700 | $39,700 | $27,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $39,200 | $39,200 | $20,625 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $37,000 | $37,000 | $26,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $35,900 | $35,900 | $24,500 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $35,500 | $35,500 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $35,200 | $35,200 | $25,000 |
| Marketing | $35,200 | $35,200 | $22,276 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $35,000 | $35,000 | $22,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $34,800 | $34,800 | $23,942 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $34,300 | $34,300 | $26,000 |
| Architecture | $34,200 | $34,200 | $25,250 |
| Journalism | $33,100 | $33,100 | $25,762 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $32,400 | $32,400 | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,000 | $32,000 | $22,812 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $31,800 | $31,800 | $23,609 |
| Geography and Cartography | $31,800 | $31,800 | $26,233 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $31,300 | $31,300 | $25,250 |
| Social Work | $31,300 | $31,300 | $25,000 |
| Sociology | $31,200 | $31,200 | $26,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $31,000 | $31,000 | $27,000 |
| Music | $30,800 | $30,800 | $24,151 |
| Political Science and Government | $30,600 | $30,600 | $24,148 |
| History | $28,200 | $28,200 | $22,600 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $27,500 | $27,500 | $25,656 |
| Psychology, General | $27,500 | $27,500 | $24,275 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $27,200 | $27,200 | $26,900 |
| Biology, General | $26,300 | $26,300 | $25,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $26,000 | $26,000 | $24,000 |
| Anthropology | $22,200 | $22,200 | $26,830 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $19,700 | $19,700 | $23,588 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $18,300 | $18,300 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in IN
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Muncie, IN
- Student Body
- 13,988 students
- Admission Rate
- 86%
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,940
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $51,833
- Median Student Debt
- $23,250