Ball State University

https://www.bsu.edu

Add Comparison

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$8,948

2.99% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$13,599

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

85.5%

21,093 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

21,089

67.9% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

61.6%

2,265 Graduates

About

Ball State University is a higher education institution located in Delaware County, IN. In 2024, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Ball State University were Education of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities (877 degrees awarded), General Business (130 degrees), and General Special Education & Teaching (113 degrees).

In 2024, 6,042 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Ball State University. 71.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 28.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (4,438 degrees), 9.11 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (487 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Ball State University is $8,948, which is $−22,972 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

Photo by Daniel Hartwig

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Ball State University is $8,948, which is $22,972 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $13,599.

In 2024, 67% of undergraduate students attending Ball State University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 43% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$8,948

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Ball State University was $8,948. The cost of tuition at Ball State University is $−22,972 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Ball State University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$13,599

2024 Value

4.47%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Ball State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,599. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Ball State University grew by 4.47%.

This chart compares the average net price of Ball State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$12,064

Room and Board

$1,360

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Ball State University was of $12,064 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 10.6% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,360. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 6.46% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Ball State University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

67%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

43%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

67% of undergraduate students at Ball State University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 2.9% with respect to 2023, when 69% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Ball State University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Ball State University received 21,093 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 26.4% annual growth. Out of those 21,093 applicants, 18,034 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 85.5% acceptance rate.

There were 21,089 students enrolled at Ball State University in 2024. 37% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Ball State University has an overall enrollment yield of 20.4%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

85.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

18,034

Accepted Out of 21,093

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Ball State University was 85.5% (18,034 admissions from 21,093 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 71.6%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 26.4%, while admissions declined by 12.1%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Ball State University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

37%

Submission Percentage (2024)

1,372

Scores Submitted (2024)

37% of enrolled first-time students at Ball State University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Ball State University had a total enrollment of 21,089 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Ball State University is 14,313 students and the part-time enrollment is 6,776. This means that 67.9% of students enrolled at Ball State University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Ball State University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 69.1% White, 10.9% Black or African American, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 4.23% Two or More Races, 2.57% Asian, 0.175% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0759% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Ball State University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (43.6%), followed by White Male (28.9%) and Black or African American Female (6.36%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (43.8%), followed by White Male (16.2%) and Black or African American Female (7.59%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

67.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Ball State University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 21,089 students. The full-time enrollment at Ball State University is 14,313 and the part-time enrollment is 6,776. This means that 67.9% of students enrolled at Ball State University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Ball State University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

78%

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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Ball State University was 78%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Ball State University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Ball State University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
14,574 enrolled students
Black or African American
2,289 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,876 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Ball State University is 69.1% White, 10.9% Black or African American, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 4.23% Two or More Races, 2.57% Asian, 0.175% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0759% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 460 students (2.18%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 2,550 more women than men received degrees from Ball State University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Ball State University is white (4,438 degrees awarded). There were 9.11 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (487 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Ball State University is Education of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities (877 degrees awarded), followed by General Business (130 degrees) and General Special Education & Teaching (113 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Ball State University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Architecture and Related Services (155 degrees awarded), Education (2,395 degrees), and Communications (367 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Ball State University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,610,713 people), Secondary school teachers (504,267 people), Education administrators (322,784 people), Other managers (315,941 people), and Special education teachers (228,088 people).

The most specialized majors at Ball State University in 2024 are Architecture and Related Services (155 degrees awarded), Education (2,395 degrees), Communications (367 degrees), Communication Technologies (35 degrees), and Psychology (422 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Agents & business managers of artists, performers, & athletes

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Ball State University are Agents & business managers of artists, performers, & athletes, Surgeons, Physicians, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at Ball State University are Architecture and Related Services (155 degrees awarded), Education (2,395 degrees), Communications (367 degrees), Communication Technologies (35 degrees), and Psychology (422 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Ball State University are Elementary & secondary schools (3,108,596 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (488,072 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (343,482 people), Outpatient care centers (239,172 people), and Computer Systems Design (234,389 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Ball State University.

Most Common (2024)

Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
36 degrees awarded
Radiographer
14 degrees awarded
Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
1 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common associates degree concentration at Ball State University was Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities with 36 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Ball State University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,746

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

4,296

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 1,746 degrees were awarded to men at Ball State University, which is 0.406 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,296).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Ball State University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 177 degrees were awarded to men at Ball State University in General Business, which is 1.42 times more than the 125 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 807 degrees were awarded to men at Ball State University in Education of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities, which is 9.38 times more than the 86 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

50%

100% Completion Time

64%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 50% of students graduating from Ball State University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 64% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 64% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (71.4%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Ball State University is Female and Asian (71.4% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.2% of graduates (27 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
4,438 degrees awarded
Black or African American
487 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
464 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Ball State University is white (4,438 degrees awarded). There were 9.11 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (487 degrees).

1.9% of degree recipients (115 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
3,607 degrees awarded
White Female
3,565 degrees awarded
White Female
3,491 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Ball State University is white female (3,607 degrees awarded). There were 1.01 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (3,565 degrees).

Operations

Ball State University has an endowment valued at nearly $261M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 23.4M (8.97%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Ball State University had a total salary expenditure of 488M. Ball State University employs 307 Lecturers, 209 Associate professors and 174 Professors. Most academics at Ball State University are Female Lecturer (184), Male Lecturer (123), and Male Associate professor (116).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Ball State University are: Service, with 447 employees, Management, with 417 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 400 employees.

Endowment

$261M

2024 Endowment

9.71%

growth from 2023

Ball State University has an endowment valued at about $261M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Ball State University grew 9.71% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $8.74M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Ball State University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$231M

2024 Salaries

6.71%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Ball State University paid a median of $231M in salaries, which represents 47.4% of their overall expenditure ($488M) and a 6.71% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 0.182% decline between 2022 and 2023, and a 2.22% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$75.3M

Instructional Salaries

979

Number of Employees

In 2024, Ball State University paid a total of $75.3M to 979 employees working as instructors, which represents 32.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Ball State University were Service with 447 employees, Management with 417 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 400 employees.

Keep Exploring

Florida International University

University

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University

University of West Florida

University

University of Northern Colorado

University

Adelphi University

University