Ball State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 13,988 students.
About This School
Ball State University is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana with approximately 13,988 undergraduate students enrolled. Ball State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 86%. The average net price after financial aid is $14,940 per year. The graduation rate is 62%, and the typical graduate earns $44,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
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 specialist degrees.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the affordable net price of ~$15,900/year and low median debt of $16,904 make this one of the better financial values among mid-sized public universities, and the 120+ undergraduate majors give students real flexibility. However, the 63% graduation rate is a genuine concern — nearly 1 in 4 freshmen who don't return after year one suggests some students struggle to find their footing, so incoming students should have a clear academic plan and take advantage of support resources early. Worth considering if you're drawn to specific programs like architecture, telecommunications, or education, where Ball State has a solid regional reputation, but go in with eyes open about the completion rate.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2024-25). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (13,988 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: Ball State University Common Data Set (2024-25).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Indiana
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Indianapolis, IN · Public
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West Lafayette, IN · Public
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN · Public
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN · Public
Indiana University-Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN · Public
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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