Ball State University (BSU)
Public four-year university in Muncie, IN that costs an average of $13,877 a year after financial aid, admits 86% of applicants and graduates 62% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$13,877
Acceptance rate
86%
Graduation rate
62%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$56,674
PublicSmall city13,988 undergraduates
Cost of BSU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $26,787 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $11,082 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $29,630 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $12,580 |
| Books and supplies | $1,400 |
| Average net price after aid | $13,877 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $8,013 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $7,780 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $10,537 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $16,425 |
| $110,001+ | $23,618 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with BSU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 86% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,160 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 550–640 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 530–620 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 20–24 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 62% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 78% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $48,437 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $56,674 |
| Rank in Indiana (earnings) | 26th of 44 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $20,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $233 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 38% |
| Students with federal loans | 42% |
Majors and programs at BSU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (79)
Certificate programs (8)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 2 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | 9 | — | — |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 1 | — | — |
| Housing and Human Environments | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 15 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 2 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 2 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 78 | $33,030 | $12,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 28 | — | $15,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 5 | — | — |
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (54)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 75 | $103,680 | $22,869 |
| Business/Commerce | 258 | $99,523 | $31,808 |
| Information Science/Studies | 92 | $74,373 | $26,636 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 31 | $70,057 | $17,577 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 160 | $67,604 | $35,095 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | 22 | $65,211 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 100 | $61,790 | $24,886 |
| Architecture | — | $61,097 | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 70 | $60,958 | $40,939 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 2,084 | $60,377 | $32,921 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 56 | $57,291 | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 40 | $56,644 | $17,281 |
| Social Work | 74 | $55,907 | $25,144 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 56 | $55,164 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 232 | $54,589 | $36,996 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 165 | $53,571 | $22,836 |
| Music | 34 | $49,904 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 47 | $49,534 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 60 | $48,895 | $13,962 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 25 | $47,870 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 26 | $47,667 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 16 | — | — |
| Anthropology | — | — | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 39 | — | — |
| Architecture and Related Services, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Biology | 22 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 17 | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 17 | — | — |
| Computational Science | 35 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 16 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 37 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 6 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 3 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 9 | — | — |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 17 | — | — |
| History | 11 | — | — |
| Journalism | 11 | — | — |
| Landscape Architecture | — | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 11 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 14 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 22 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 11 | — | — |
| Physics | 8 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 28 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 7 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 17 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 24 | — | — |
| Sociology | 17 | — | — |
| Statistics | 14 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 7 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (10)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 23 | $127,807 | $36,274 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 28 | $75,190 | $60,607 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 9 | — | — |
| Human Biology | 9 | — | — |
| Music | 24 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 6 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 5 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 10 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 15 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (43)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education and Teaching | 1,405 | $59,582 | $35,725 |
| American Sign Language | 12 | — | — |
| Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation | 3 | — | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 5 | — | — |
| Architecture | 8 | — | — |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 2 | — | — |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | — | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | 3 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | 11 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 27 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 29 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 46 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 1 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 7 | — | — |
| Economics | 2 | — | — |
| Education | 18 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 60 | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | 20 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 4 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 2 | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 1 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 3 | — | — |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | 2 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 3 | — | — |
| Gerontology | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 4 | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 1 | — | — |
| Interior Architecture | 13 | — | — |
| Journalism | 2 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 7 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 9 | — | — |
| Music | 2 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 4 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 1 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 3 | — | — |
| Real Estate | 4 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 11 | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 12 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 21 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 11 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 5 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Indiana
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis | $9,479 | 76% | $58,990 |
| Indiana State University | Terre Haute | $10,103 | 81% | $52,316 |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond | $6,223 | 72% | $58,620 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | $12,471 | 84% | $51,617 |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | Bloomington | $16,003 | 78% | $70,105 |
| Purdue University-Main Campus | West Lafayette | $14,851 | 50% | $80,082 |
| Indiana University-South Bend | South Bend | $8,607 | 84% | $50,051 |
| Indiana University-Southeast | New Albany | $10,026 | 84% | $52,768 |
About BSU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Muncie, IN |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 13,988 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 14 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | bsu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is BSU's acceptance rate?
Ball State University admits 86% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,160 on the SAT.
How much does BSU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $26,787 a year (tuition and fees: $11,082 in-state, $29,630 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $13,877 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $8,013.
How much do BSU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $56,674 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 26th of 44 similar colleges in Indiana. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($77,878 a year after graduation).
What is BSU's graduation rate?
62% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 78% of first-year students return for a second year.