At $15,898/yr net price, Ball State University graduates earn $51,833/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $17,833/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $15,898 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $63,592 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,833/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$17,833/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 63.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,233/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,717/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,882/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,748/yr |
| $110,001+ | $21,756/yr |
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 |
The Risk Factor
63.3% of students at Ball State University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 37% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Ball State gives you a solid, unspectacular financial return. Median debt sits below the earnings you can expect ten years out, and the net price stays under the point where the math turns against most families. This is a reasonable bet, not a home run.
Your major decides everything here. Sales and merchandising graduates out-earn nursing grads by nearly $13,000 a year, and construction management pays off too, though it carries some of the heaviest debt on campus at $25,500. The best deal is management sciences: strong pay paired with the lowest debt load of the top programs, around $16,654. Nursing and management information systems land in respectable middle ground with steady regional demand across Indiana. If you land outside these business, health, and technical fields, the school lists no bachelor-level earnings data to back up a payoff, so go in with clear eyes about your prospects.
The main risk is finishing. A 63% graduation rate means a real chance you leave with debt and no degree, and the 77% retention rate says roughly one in four first-years does not return. Debt with no credential is the worst outcome this school can hand you.
Price scales steeply with income. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about a third of what families over $110,000 pay, which makes Ball State affordable at the low end. In the $75,000-$110,000 range, the price climbs to nearly $20,000 a year, and the return only justifies that if you finish in one of the higher-earning majors.
This school fits you if you plan to study business, nursing, construction, or information systems and want an in-state Indiana career. If you are undecided or drawn to a field with no listed earnings here, weigh cheaper options before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ball State University worth the cost?
Ball State offers decent value with a net price of $15,898 and median debt of $23,250, but graduates earn only $51,833 after 10 years. The ROI depends heavily on your major, with nursing and information science programs paying significantly more than the average.
What are the highest paying programs at Ball State University?
Nursing programs lead at Ball State with graduates earning over $92,000, followed by information science at $75,989. These programs justify the cost much better than the school average of $51,833.
How much debt do Ball State University graduates have?
Ball State graduates have a median debt of $23,250, which is manageable compared to many schools. However, with average earnings of $51,833, debt-to-income ratios can be tight for graduates in lower-paying majors.
Does Ball State University have good job outcomes?
Ball State's 63% graduation rate is below average, and 10-year earnings of $51,833 are modest for a bachelor's degree. Job outcomes vary dramatically by program, with nursing and business majors faring much better than others.