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Ball State University
Ball State University admits nearly everyone — 85.5% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Ball State University is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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Ball State University sits in Muncie proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Construction Management, where graduates median $90,239 four years out. Faculty pay averages $100,896 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 13,988 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 77.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1080 and 1250 — above the IN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Ball State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to Ball State University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1080 and 1250; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 550 | 590 | 630 |
| SAT Math | 530 | 570 | 620 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 27 | 30 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Ball State University received 28,668 applications and admitted 20,525 (71.6%), with 3,826 enrolling.
How Ball State University compares
| Ball State University | Indiana median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 85.5% | 77.9% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,082 | $32,352 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $51,833 | $52,071 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Ball State University's median earnings are $51,833 — below the Indiana benchmark of $52,071. Weigh that against the $11,082 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Ball State University prices by residency: $11,082 in-state versus $29,630 out-of-state — a $18,548 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Ball State University enrolls 13,988 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Ball State University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
62.3% graduate within six years. Roughly 38% don't — ask a Ball State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Ball State University
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 57 Ball State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $51,833 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 33 additional Ball State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Ball State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1080–1250 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 85.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Ball State University's acceptance rate?
71.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 20,525 admitted from 28,668 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 do Ball State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $51,833 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
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: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.