Ball State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Ball State University is a public research university in Muncie, Indiana, with about 13,988 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 85.50% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $51,833 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $11,082
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,940 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 85.50% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 13,988 93.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 62.34%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 27.7%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 3.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 76.7%
- Average SAT Score: 1160
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,423
- Applicants (IPEDS): 28,668
- Room & Board: $12,334 annual estimate
Ball State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Ball State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Ball State University?
Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN (ZIP 47306).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Ball State University public or private?
Ball State University is a Public institution.
How much does Ball State University cost?
Published tuition: $11,082 in-state, $29,630 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $14,940.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $7,834 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,848 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,333 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $19,567 |
| $110,001+ | $23,479 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $44,328.
How hard is it to get into Ball State University?
Admission rate: 85.50%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1160 and midpoint ACT 24.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Ball State University?
Total enrollment: 13,988 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 16,423 students.
Graduate enrollment: 5,900 students.
About 93% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Ball State University?
150%-time completion rate: 62.34%.
First-year retention: 77.7%.
What do graduates of Ball State University earn?
Median earnings: $44,394 six years after entry; $51,833 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,250.
34.71% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Ball State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities (893 completions)
- Special Education and Teaching, General (425 completions)
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism (337 completions)
- Business/Commerce, General (302 completions)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (205 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (200 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (196 completions)
- Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia (188 completions)
- Psychology, General (178 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (142 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Ball State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 85.50%; completion rate 62.34%; median earnings $51,833 at 10 years; net price $14,940. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$11,082
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Ball State University was $11,082.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,940
2024 Value
In 2024 Ball State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,940.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$59,760 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,940 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$44,328 4-Year In-State Tuition
$118,520 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$12,334 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,400 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,816 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$99,264 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Ball State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
34.71% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
42.62% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Ball State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Ball State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $9,160 | $24,124 | $15,294 |
| 2014 | $9,344 | $24,610 | $15,141 |
| 2015 | $9,498 | $25,016 | $15,201 |
| 2016 | $9,654 | $25,428 | $15,521 |
| 2017 | $9,774 | $25,942 | $15,187 |
| 2018 | $9,896 | $26,468 | $15,020 |
| 2019 | $10,020 | $26,800 | $15,147 |
| 2020 | $10,144 | $27,132 | $14,765 |
| 2021 | $10,290 | $27,524 | $15,464 |
| 2022 | $10,440 | $27,924 | $15,419 |
| 2023 | $10,758 | $28,766 | $15,898 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
85.50% Acceptance Rate
28,668 Total Applicants
20,525 Students Admitted
3,826 First-Time Students Enrolled
18.64% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1160
ACT Average: 24
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Ball State University reported total enrollment of about 13,988 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (71.8%), Black or African American (10.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (8.0%). About 34.71% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 27.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
93.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Ball State University in 2024 is 13,988 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 16,423 students. Graduate enrollment is about 5,900 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.7%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 71.8%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
49.48% 100% Completion Time
62.34% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 49.48% of students graduating from Ball State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities: 10% male / 90% female
- Special Education and Teaching, General: 8% male / 92% female
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism: 7% male / 93% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Ball State University.
Return on Investment
$23,250 Median Student Debt
$51,833 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
44.86% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
767.35% Return on Investment
4.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Ball State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 176 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities: 893 completions
2. Special Education and Teaching, General: 425 completions
3. Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism: 337 completions
4. Business/Commerce, General: 302 completions
5. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 205 completions
6. Elementary Education and Teaching: 200 completions
7. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 196 completions
8. Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia: 188 completions
9. Psychology, General: 178 completions
Most popular programs at Ball State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Ball State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Ball State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 76.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,408
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,844
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Ball State University is a public institution located in Muncie, IN, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities, Special Education and Teaching, General, Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. Enrollment is approximately 13,988 students. Student body composition includes White (71.8%), Black or African American (10.7%), Hispanic or Latino (8.0%). The admission rate is 85.50%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1160. The 150%-time completion rate is 62.34%. Approximately 34.71% of students receive Pell Grants. About 27.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Location
Muncie, IN 47306
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 176 distinct degree programs, Ball State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ball State University located?
Ball State University is located in Muncie, IN.
What is Ball State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Ball State University is 85.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 28,668 applicants and 20,525 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Ball State University cost?
Reported tuition is $11,082 and average net price is $14,940 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,334 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Ball State University?
Ball State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 16,423 students, White (71.8%), Black or African American (10.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Ball State University?
About 27.7% of students at Ball State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Ball State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Ball State University reports midpoint SAT about 1160 and midpoint ACT about 24.
What do graduates of Ball State University earn?
Median earnings are $44,394 six years after entry and $51,833 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Ball State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 62.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Ball State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,250.
Is Ball State University public or private?
Ball State University is a public institution located in Muncie, IN.
Is Ball State University an HBCU?
No. Ball State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Ball State University a tribal college?
No. Ball State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Indiana college costs
- Indiana colleges by ROI
- Muncie, Indiana city profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Indiana
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.