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Ball State University

Ball State University is a public campus in Muncie proper — federal locale codes class it as urban.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$7,233

family income
under $30k

$9,717

$30–48k

$14,882

$48–75k

$19,748

$75–110k

$21,756

over $110k

Average net price

$14,9402023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Ball State University has held near $14,940 from 2008 to 2023.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$14,454
2009	$14,351
2010	$14,243
2011	$15,184
2012	$15,294
2013	$15,141
2014	$15,201
2015	$15,521
2016	$15,187
2017	$15,020
2018	$15,147
2019	$14,765
2020	$15,464
2021	$15,419
2022	$15,898
2023	$14,940

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$26,1462024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Ball State University rose from $18,700 (2009) to $26,146 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$18,700
2010	$19,200
2011	$19,655
2012	$20,372
2013	$21,101
2014	$21,807
2015	$22,294
2016	$23,157
2017	$23,468
2018	$23,783
2019	$24,093
2020	$24,439
2021	$24,343
2022	$24,478
2023	$25,134
2024	$26,146

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,720	$10,180
2001	$4,034	$10,910
2002	$4,700	$12,480
2003	$5,930	$14,348
2004	$6,160	$15,336
2005	$6,458	$16,218
2006	$6,810	$17,186
2007	$7,212	$18,280
2008	$7,500	$19,304
2013	$9,160	$24,124
2014	$9,344	$24,610
2015	$9,498	$25,016
2016	$9,654	$25,428
2017	$9,774	$25,942
2018	$9,896	$26,468
2019	$10,020	$26,800
2020	$10,144	$27,132
2021	$10,290	$27,524
2022	$10,440	$27,924
2023	$10,758	$28,766

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Ball State University reports published tuition by residency: $11,082 in-state versus $29,630 out-of-state — a $18,548 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Ball State University reports 13,988 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

62.3% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Ball State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

62.3%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Ball State University rose from 54.4% (entered 1991) to 62.3% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	54.4%
1992 cohort	52.5%
1993 cohort	47.2%
1994 cohort	48.5%
1995 cohort	47.5%
1996 cohort	47.2%
1997 cohort	49.4%
1998 cohort	53.1%
1999 cohort	55.2%
2000 cohort	58.9%
2001 cohort	58.5%
2002 cohort	60.4%
2003 cohort	59.7%
2004 cohort	57.2%
2005 cohort	56.3%
2006 cohort	57.3%
2007 cohort	59.4%
2008 cohort	59.5%
2009 cohort	59.6%
2010 cohort	58%
2011 cohort	61.6%
2012 cohort	62.7%
2013 cohort	66%
2014 cohort	66.8%
2015 cohort	68%
2016 cohort	63.9%
2017 cohort	63.3%
2018 cohort	62.3%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$13,190	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$13,503	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$13,812	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$14,073	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$14,250	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$14,070	$2,700
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$13,824	$2,795
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,323	$3,124
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,500	$2,784
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,625	$2,668
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,925	$3,750
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$21,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$23,250	$6,148
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$24,390	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$25,000	$6,634
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$24,836	$7,386
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$24,514	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$24,000	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$23,500	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$23,250	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$23,250	$6,500

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$44,394

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$48,782

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$51,833

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Ball State University admitted 18,034 of 21,093 applicants in Fall 2024. The 85.5% rate describes that application pool.

85.5%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $10,758 in-state tuition · 2023–24 13,988 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1080–12601600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Ball State University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Ball State University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 550–640 and Math was 530–620 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1080–1260 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	550	590	640
SAT Math	530	570	620
ACT Composite	20	23	24

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Ball State University received 21,093 applications and admitted 18,034 (85.5%), with 3,686 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

85.5%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	76.1%
Fall 2002	76.1%
Fall 2003	76.1%
Fall 2004	76.4%
Fall 2005	80.3%
Fall 2006	79.1%
Fall 2007	72%
Fall 2008	73.4%
Fall 2009	73.7%
Fall 2010	64.7%
Fall 2011	67.5%
Fall 2012	61%
Fall 2013	60.5%
Fall 2014	59.9%
Fall 2015	60.5%
Fall 2016	62.3%
Fall 2017	62.1%
Fall 2018	64.8%
Fall 2019	76.7%
Fall 2020	87.1%
Fall 2021	68.2%
Fall 2022	69%
Fall 2023	71.6%
Fall 2024	85.5%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1080–1260Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	936	1152
Fall 2002	920	1150
Fall 2003	920	1140
Fall 2004	940	1150
Fall 2005	940	1140
Fall 2006	930	1130
Fall 2007	940	1150
Fall 2008	940	1150
Fall 2009	940	1150
Fall 2010	970	1160
Fall 2011	960	1160
Fall 2012	960	1160
Fall 2013	980	1160
Fall 2014	1000	1190
Fall 2015	1010	1190
Fall 2016	990	1170
Fall 2017	1080	1240
Fall 2021	1010	1210
Fall 2022	1090	1260
Fall 2023	1080	1250
Fall 2024	1080	1260

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

20–24Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	20	25
Fall 2004	19	24
Fall 2005	19	25
Fall 2006	19	25
Fall 2007	19	24
Fall 2008	19	23
Fall 2009	19	24
Fall 2010	20	24
Fall 2011	20	24
Fall 2012	19	23
Fall 2013	20	24
Fall 2014	20	24
Fall 2015	20	24
Fall 2016	20	24
Fall 2017	20	24
Fall 2021	20	27
Fall 2022	23	28
Fall 2023	25	30
Fall 2024	20	24

IPEDS Fall 2002–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

13,988Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Ball State University fell from 16,520 (Fall 2002) to 13,988 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	16,520
Fall 2003	17,660
Fall 2004	17,410
Fall 2005	17,269
Fall 2006	16,902
Fall 2007	16,422
Fall 2008	16,576
Fall 2009	17,403
Fall 2010	17,785
Fall 2011	17,143
Fall 2012	16,323
Fall 2013	15,985
Fall 2014	15,895
Fall 2015	15,689
Fall 2016	16,260
Fall 2017	16,277
Fall 2018	15,703
Fall 2019	15,610
Fall 2020	15,171
Fall 2021	13,896
Fall 2022	13,466
Fall 2023	13,770
Fall 2024	13,988

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

78%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Ball State University has held near 78% from Fall 2003 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	78%
Fall 2004 cohort	76%
Fall 2005 cohort	75%
Fall 2006 cohort	76%
Fall 2007 cohort	78%
Fall 2008 cohort	78%
Fall 2009 cohort	80%
Fall 2010 cohort	79%
Fall 2011 cohort	77%
Fall 2012 cohort	78%
Fall 2013 cohort	81%
Fall 2014 cohort	82%
Fall 2015 cohort	81%
Fall 2016 cohort	78%
Fall 2017 cohort	78%
Fall 2018 cohort	75%
Fall 2019 cohort	80%
Fall 2020 cohort	73%
Fall 2021 cohort	73%
Fall 2022 cohort	77%
Fall 2023 cohort	78%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about Ball State University

Faculty pay at Ball State University averages $100,896 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Ball State University as a primarily residential campus of 13,988 undergraduates — and 77.7% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Ball State University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1080–1260 — their midpoint is above the IN four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Ball State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Ball State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Ball State University85.5%

Indiana median77.2%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Ball State University$11,082

Indiana median$32,352

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Ball State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Ball State University$51,833

Indiana median$52,071

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Ball State University, Indiana and national reference values
Metric & basis	Ball State University	Indiana median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	85.5%	77.2%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$11,082	$32,352	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$51,833	$52,071	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Ball State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Ball State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 57 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Construction Management	$90,239
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$79,620
Management Information Systems and Services	$78,566
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations	$78,401
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$77,774
Business/Managerial Economics	$76,847
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$76,161
Human Resources Management and Services	$75,822
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$75,703
Accounting and Related Services	$75,559
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians	$73,664
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$71,514
Finance and Financial Management Services	$70,833
Business/Commerce, General	$67,141
Landscape Architecture	$65,382
Marketing	$64,895
Architecture and Related Services, Other	$64,350
Chemistry	$63,764
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$61,677
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	$61,584
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$60,686
Insurance	$59,612
Political Science and Government	$58,953
Legal Professions and Studies, Other	$57,249
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs	$56,078
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	$55,768
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning	$55,663
Biology, General	$55,097
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$55,053
Geography and Cartography	$53,992
Design and Applied Arts	$53,514
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$52,997
Apparel and Textiles	$52,542
Public Health	$52,202
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$51,294
Special Education and Teaching	$51,267
Communication and Media Studies	$51,186
History	$50,838
Social Work	$50,321
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$50,260
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$49,657
Journalism	$49,456
Psychology, General	$48,421
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General	$48,378
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$48,344
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	$47,737
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations	$47,584
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$46,269
Hospitality Administration/Management	$44,705
Anthropology	$44,371
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$44,208
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$43,082
Fine and Studio Arts	$42,594
Sociology	$38,857
English Language and Literature, General	$38,676
Music	$37,997
Dance	$34,518

These 57 fields listed for Ball State University measure earnings after completion. The $51,833 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 33 additional Ball State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Ball State University report?

Ball State University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1080–1260 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Ball State University's acceptance rate?

85.5% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 18,034 admitted from 21,093 applicants.

How much does Ball State University cost?

In-state tuition is $11,082; out-of-state students pay $29,630. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Ball State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $51,833. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Indiana

Bethel University — 97.7% admitted
Butler University — 85.1% admitted
University of Southern Indiana — 95.8% admitted
Indiana University-Kokomo — 86.5% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.