Ball State University
#1 Best Online Colleges in Indiana- Graduation Rate
- 63% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,833 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $14,940 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 86% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Online Colleges in Indiana.
Every $1 spent returns $20.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,188,733.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Earnings 27% above the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $20.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 82%
- Patents
- 38
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 24
- Downstream influence
Why Ball State University Matters
Ball State University is a public research university in Muncie, IN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 13,988
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Communications, Health Professions
Why students choose Ball State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 86% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1080–1260. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,940 a year after grants and scholarships — 13% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,833 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $23,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 89% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.58 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
About 86% of applicants gain admission to Ball State University, making it accessible to a wide range of students. With nearly 14,000 enrolled, the university supports a diverse population in Muncie, Indiana. This large acceptance rate is indicative of the university's commitment to welcoming students from various backgrounds.
Graduates from Ball State University earn a median salary of $51,833 ten years after enrollment. While the graduation rate stands at 63%, many students find opportunities in fields such as Business, Education, and Communications. The Chetty data shows room for improvement in mobility, but the university does cater to students who are determined to succeed in their chosen fields.
The net price for attending Ball State is approximately $14,940, with a median debt of $23,250. Financial aid is available, with 35% of students receiving Pell Grants. Students who thrive here are typically those looking for a supportive community and clear pathways to careers in health, education, or business.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Ball State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ball State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Ball State University, located in Muncie, Indiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,160. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1160
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 1080–1260
- ACT Range
- 20–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 77%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,408
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.46
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 22,859
- Admitted
- 15,761
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ball State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ball State University is $29,630, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,940. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,834 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $11,082
- Out-of-State
- $29,630
- Avg Net Price
- $14,940
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 43%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,834
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,848
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,333
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,479
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Ball State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ball State University earn a median of $51,833, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,394
- 8 Years
- $48,782
- 10 Years
- $51,833
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,953)
- 54%
- 100% (1,953)
- 54%
- 100% (1,953)
- 54%
- 100% (1,953)
- 54%
How Ball Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Ball State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ball State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,940/year ($59,760 total). Graduates earn $51,833 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,248,493 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,188,733 (20.9× your investment). The median debt is $23,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $59,760
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,248,493
- Net Return
- $1,188,733
- ROI Multiple
- 20.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,940
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 63%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Ball State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ball State University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.77%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.77%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 17.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $94,900
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Ball State University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 38 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.16%
- Top 82% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 38
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 24
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $7,789,460
- Investment Income
- $-36,072,868
Top Programs
The fields Ball State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 16%
- Education 13%
- Communications 10%
- Health Professions 9%
- Humanities 8%
- Psychology 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 6%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Ball State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ball State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Ball State University, located in Muncie, Indiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,160. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ball State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ball State University is $29,630, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,940. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,834 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
Is Ball State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ball State University earn a median of $51,833, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Ball State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ball State University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.77%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $94,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Ball State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ball State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ball State University.
- University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI · Close peer63% grad $57,624 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · Close peer58% grad $53,562 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, MO · Close peer58% grad $49,827 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT · Close peer57% grad $53,263 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · Close peer62% grad $55,356 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · Close peer50% grad $54,990 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ball State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ball State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note