Ball State University — College Profile

About

Located in Muncie, Indiana, Ball State University is a prominent public research institution renowned for its top-tier programs in telecommunications and media, architecture, education, and business. The university is defined by its signature "Immersive Learning" approach, which engages students in hands-on, interdisciplinary projects with community and industry partners to solve real-world problems. Campus culture is active and welcoming, characterized by spirited Division I Mid-American Conference athletics, hundreds of student organizations, and state-of-the-art creative spaces like the David Letterman Communication and Media Building.

Wikipedia: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.

Location

Muncie, IN, 47306 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

IND · Indianapolis

58 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$11,082$29,630

Housing & food (on campus)$12,334$12,334

Books & supplies$1,400$1,400

Cost of attendance$26,146$47,220

Average net price$14,940Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$29,630

In-state: $11,082

Housing & food (on campus)$12,334

Books & supplies$1,400

Cost of attendance$47,220

In-state: $26,146

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $14,940

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.bsu.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27

Ball State University’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$27,496

Housing$12,832

Books & supplies$782

Personal expenses$2,366

Transportation$1,450

Total published by the school$47,220

Source: www.bsu.edu · checked Sep 13, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$7,834

$30–48k

$9,848

$48–75k

$14,333

$75–110k

$19,567

$110k+

$23,479

Your family's actual price → Ball State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

63%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

49%

Back for yr 2

78%

Transferred

23%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

66% graduated · 23% transferred · 11% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$44,394

10 yrs after entry$51,833

Debt

Median at graduation$23,250

Monthly payment$246

Middle 50% owe$7k–$27k

90th percentile$32,000

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

86%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1160

R 550–640 · M 530–620

ACT midpoint

Comp 20–24 · E 20–23 · M 19–25

SAT middle 50%: 1080–1260

40080012001600

Wondering if Ball State University is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list

Financial aid & net cost estimates

Deep dives on any school

Scholarship search

Get your college list →See a sample college plan first

Essay prompts

If Ball State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 39%Women 61%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

14 : 1

Pell grant

35%

First-gen

28%

Family income

$61,975

Independent

Veterans

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

72%

Hispanic

Black

11%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Field Hockey
Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Gymnastics
Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming and Diving (combined)
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Women's
Volleyball
Men's · Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$44,394

After 10 yrs

$51,833

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities199

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods189

Psychology, General189

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication178

Business/Commerce, General164

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing151

Biology, General141

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas129

Criminal Justice and Corrections104

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness93

Fine and Studio Arts84

Marketing75

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft72

Journalism69

Finance and Financial Management Services69

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication64

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$261M

Full-time faculty

77%

Faculty salary

$8,408/mo

Teaching spend

$10,844

per student

Federal loans

43%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R2 — high research

$13M research spending · 58 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile