Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 63.6%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 63.3%
- Retention Rate
- 77.2%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $51,833
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $23,250
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 64.6%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $246/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $92,124 | $33,250 |
| Information Science/Studies. | Master | $75,989 | $19,632 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Certificate | $75,204 | |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations. | Bachelor | $69,338 | $24,250 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Master | $65,610 | $23,417 |
| Construction Management. | Bachelor | $64,493 | $25,500 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Bachelor | $63,997 | $16,654 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Certificate | $57,995 | |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | Bachelor | $56,776 | $22,665 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $56,505 | $24,732 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $54,296 | $23,512 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $53,775 | |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master | $53,497 | $33,092 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $53,108 | $21,304 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $52,357 |
Outcomes Overview
Ball State graduates earn a median of $51,833 ten years after graduation, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 45% with typical student debt of $23,250. Monthly loan payments of $246 consume about 5.7% of median income, which falls below the recommended 10% threshold. The university's strong telecommunications and communications programs feed into media, broadcasting, and corporate communications roles where starting salaries often climb quickly. Alumni like David Letterman demonstrate the school's media industry connections. With 96.8% of graduates finding employment and manageable debt loads relative to earnings, Ball State delivers a strong return on investment for students pursuing communications and media careers.