Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Ball State University #277 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,619, placing Ball State University in the 32.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Ball State University sits in the 45.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $2,953 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Ball State University's composite ranking reflects a broad balance of return, access, and affordability that positions it competitively among nonprofit four-year institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn at a level that holds up well against peer institutions, and the university's earnings-beyond-expectations standing shows that students tend to outperform what their incoming profile would predict at comparable schools.
Azimuth ranks Ball State University #277 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public research university (Carnegie R2) in Muncie, IN, Ball State University enrolls roughly 13,988 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 62.3%, reflecting a solid record of moving students through to degree completion. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks Ball State University #811 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $57,619, and earn about $2,953 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ball State University in the 45.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's dominant concentration in Business — a field with strong regional employer demand in Indiana and beyond — contributes meaningfully to that outcome. Access and affordability shape the remaining composite pillars. Ball State University admits about 85.5% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that keeps the door open to a wide range of students; 34.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.7% are first-generation college students. Ball State University sits in the 81.7 percentile for access and the 70.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 88.3 percentile — a profile that reflects the university's role as a regionally anchored public institution serving a broad, cost-sensitive student population.
Ball State University's published cost of attendance is $26,146. Net price by income band reflects the university's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $7,834, middle-income families pay around $14,333, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,479. Azimuth ranks Ball State University #428 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Ball State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university's aid structure works to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay. The affordability rank reflects both the headline net price and the debt load graduates carry, accounting for how earnings stretch against borrowing obligations over time. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,800; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,619, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Ball State University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, education, and applied professional fields who want a public university experience in Muncie, IN, with a program mix oriented toward career-ready outcomes rather than research-intensive pathways. Graduates earn in the 32.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Ball State University sits in the 45.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $2,953 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students prioritizing long-term financial return on their degree investment. The access profile is broad. 34.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.7% are first-generation college students, and Ball State University sits in the 43.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. For cost-sensitive families, median student debt at graduation is $23,250, and higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $23,479. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Ball State's program portfolio is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Students seeking a highly research-intensive environment or a highly selective admissions process will find a different profile here — Ball State is broadly accessible, with an admission rate of 85.5%, and its value proposition centers on applied career preparation rather than research prestige.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Ball State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Construction Management
34 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
18 graduates
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
14 graduates
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
32 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
159 graduates
Ball State University's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with its identity as a regional public university serving Indiana's workforce. Business represents the largest share of degree output, with Business accounting for 19% of graduates, followed by Education at 11% and Arts at 7%.
Across 66 programs, 48 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, together serving roughly 3,327 students annually. The program with the strongest combination of scale and earnings is Nursing, which anchors Ball State University's financial outcomes by pairing a large graduate cohort with competitive median earnings four years after enrollment.
Among the most popular programs, Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program graduates 197 students with median earnings of $47,737 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #28 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business/Commerce, General and General Studies are also among the largest programs by cohort size, with graduates earning $67,141 and $49,657, respectively, four years after enrollment.
The highest-earning programs at Ball State University are concentrated in applied business and technical fields. Nursing leads on earnings, with 159 graduates earning median earnings of $76,161 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks it #273 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business/Commerce, General follows, with graduates earning $67,141 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #22 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes rather than graduate-school continuation.
For context on how these fields align with national hiring demand, see [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Ball State University's published cost of attendance is $26,146. Net price by income band reflects the university's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $7,834, middle-income families pay around $14,333, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,479.
Azimuth ranks Ball State University #428 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Ball State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university's aid structure works to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline net price and the debt load graduates carry, accounting for how earnings stretch against borrowing obligations over time. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,800; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,619, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Ball State University earn median earnings of $57,619 four years after enrollment, placing Ball State University in the 32.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,953 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ball State University in the 45.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Ball State University #811 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Business, which shapes both the scale and the earnings profile of the typical graduate.
The program lineup at Ball State University reflects a broad, professionally oriented mix. Nursing anchors the return story by combining high enrollment with competitive median earnings, making it the single largest contributor to aggregate graduate earnings at the institution.
The Radio, Television, and Digital Communication program graduates 197 students with median earnings of $47,737 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #28 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Business/Commerce, General and General Studies are also among the larger programs by cohort scale — 174 and 171 graduates respectively — with median earnings of $67,141 and $49,657 four years after enrollment.
On the higher-earning end, Teacher Education and Nursing post median earnings of $48,344 and $76,161 four years after enrollment, with Azimuth ranking Teacher Education #112 and Nursing #273 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Similar quality tier (#10743 ranked) | TX | 91% | $51,450 | #10743 | Compare |
Norfolk State University Similar quality tier (#10730 ranked) | VA | 88% | $44,666 | #10730 | Compare |
University Of West Georgia Similar quality tier (#10747 ranked) | GA | 52% | $49,587 | #10747 | Compare |
Tarleton State University Similar quality tier (#10750 ranked) | TX | 90% | $53,040 | #10750 | Compare |
William Paterson University Of New Jersey Similar quality tier (#10755 ranked) | NJ | 90% | $57,780 | #10755 | Compare |
