Ball State University

Ball State University Overview

Ball State University is a public, state school in the suburban setting of Muncie, Indiana. Ball State was founded in 1918 and the school presently has around 21,597 students a year, including 15,780 undergrad students. Ball State offers housing for students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Ball State!

Love music or performing? At Ball State you can join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Ball State students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Excited for Greek life? Ball State has both fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Ball State has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Ball State on the Student Life page.

Is Ball State a Good School?

There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Some factors that can help you determine what a good school for you might be include admissions criteria, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more.

Let's take a closer look at these areas to get a better idea of what Ball State offers and if the college seems like a good fit for you.

Ball State Acceptance Rate 2022

The university admitted 69% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 24,475 applications received in 2022, 16,859 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Ball State

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. It gauges how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 80% of students who start at Ball State come back for their second year of college. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outcomes for Ball State Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers. 67% of graduates from Ball State recieve at least one full-time job offer within six months of graduating.

Check with Ball State directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Ball State University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.

Ball State's endowment was valued at $213.2 million in 2022, compared to a national average of $905 million. The school spends $10,310 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Ball State

Tuition is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

Ball State meets 76.7% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $15,899 a year.

Students in the class of 2022 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $27,892 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA asap. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Ball State.

Based on this information, does Ball State seem like a good fit? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is Ball State a good school for you?

If Ball State University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Exploring Schools?

Choose one of the options below to learn more about Ball State:

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Ball State Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting admitted to some of the most selective schools in the U.S.

Where is Ball State University Located?

Ball State is located in the suburban setting of Muncie, Indiana, in the suburbs of Indianapolis.

If you want to see Ball State for yourself, be sure to plan a visit! The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 69 to Muncie, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Indianapolis International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Ball State and Muncie are like without leaving home.

Considering Colleges and Universities in Indiana?

See a full list of colleges in Indiana and save your favorites to your college list.