Ball State University (BSU) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About Ball State University
Set in Muncie, this cardinal-red campus pairs practical learning with creative energy. Ball State is known for strong teaching across education, communication, design, business, health, and the sciences, with project-based classes that put ideas to work. Students find studios and labs, a campus planetarium, lively libraries, and a busy rec center, plus advising, tutoring, counseling, and career services that feel accessible, not distant.
Life here leans friendly and collaborative. You'll see student media in full swing, performances most weeks, and plenty of intramurals and trail time along the river. The university has a reputation for community partnerships, internships across Indiana and the Midwest, and alumni who pick up the phone. Muncie adds coffee shops, local arts, volunteer outlets, and easy reach of Indianapolis. Traditions revolve around cardinal pride and homecoming spirit. Notable alum David Letterman, for good measure. It's a place that grows on you.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
Ball State University (BSU) offers 175 degree programs across 27 major academic fields, graduating approximately 6,042 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Education (44 programs, 2,395 graduates), Business (18 programs, 715 graduates), Psychology (11 programs, 422 graduates), Health (13 programs, 374 graduates) and Communication (7 programs, 367 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Education (44 programs, 2,395 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
Business (18 programs, 715 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | 302 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
52.0101 |
| Marketing Management | 71 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1401 |
| Finance, General | 68 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0801 |
| Accounting | 57 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.0301 |
| Construction Management | 41 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.2001 |
| Fashion Merchandising | 23 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1902 |
| Hospitality Management | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0901 |
| Human Resources Management | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1001 |
| Management Information Systems | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1201 |
| Actuarial Science | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52.1304 |
| Business Administration and Management | 14 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0201 |
| Management Science | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
52.1301 |
| Sales Skills and Operations | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1804 |
| Real Estate | 11 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
52.1501 |
| Insurance Studies | 10 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1701 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0205 |
| Entrepreneurship Studies | 7 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0701 |
| International Business and Trade | 4 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1101 |
Psychology (11 programs, 422 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Psychology | 178 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.0101 |
| Educational Psychology | 70 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
42.2806 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 59 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.2814 |
| Counseling Psychology | 36 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
42.2803 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 26 |
|
Master's
|
42.2708 |
| School Psychology | 26 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
42.2805 |
| Clinical Psychology | 11 |
|
Master's
|
42.2801 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 7 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
42.2703 |
| Social Psychology | 4 |
|
Master's
|
42.2707 |
| Applied Psychology | 4 |
|
Master's
|
42.2899 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 1 |
|
Master's
|
42.2701 |
Health (13 programs, 374 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 196 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.3801 |
| Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology | 43 |
|
Bachelor's
Doctorate (P)
|
51.0204 |
| Speech-Language Pathology | 33 |
|
Master's
|
51.0203 |
| Dietetics | 26 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51.3101 |
| Pre-Medicine | 20 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.1102 |
| Health and Wellness | 15 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0001 |
| Radiologic Technology | 14 |
|
Associate's
|
51.0911 |
| Respiratory Care Therapy | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0908 |
| Athletic Training | 6 |
|
Master's
|
51.0913 |
| Audiology | 5 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0202 |
| Pre-Dentistry Studies | 5 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.1101 |
| Health Administration and Management | 1 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
51.0701 |
| Family Practice Nursing | 1 |
|
Post-Master's
|
51.3805 |
Communication (7 programs, 367 graduates)
Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Media and Multimedia | 188 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
09.0702 |
| Journalism | 55 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
09.0401 |
| Public Relations and Advertising | 44 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
09.0900 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 42 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
09.0101 |
| Advertising | 32 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0903 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting | 4 |
|
Master's
|
09.0701 |
| Technical and Scientific Communication | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0908 |
Liberal Arts (2 programs, 241 graduates)
Liberal Arts Education, General Studies and Humanities
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | 205 |
|
Bachelor's
|
24.0101 |
| Liberal Arts and Humanities | 36 |
|
Associate's
|
24.0199 |
Arts (14 programs, 228 graduates)
Fine Arts, Design Studies and Creative Performance
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theatre Arts | 62 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0501 |
| Art Studies | 38 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0701 |
| Interior Design | 35 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50.0408 |
| Music | 20 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
50.0901 |
| Design and Visual Communications | 19 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0401 |
| Music | 17 |
|
Master's
|
50.0999 |
| Dance | 15 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0301 |
| Music Performance | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0903 |
| Fashion and Apparel Design | 4 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0407 |
| Advertising and Commercial Art | 3 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0402 |
| Studio Arts, General | 2 |
|
Master's
|
50.0702 |
| Music Management | 2 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
50.1003 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0904 |
| Jazz Studies | 1 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0910 |
Biological Sciences (6 programs, 167 graduates)
Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Biomedical Research
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology and Biological Sciences | 142 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26.0101 |
| Biotechnology | 14 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
26.1201 |
| Cardiovascular Science | 5 |
|
Master's
|
26.0907 |
| Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology | 3 |
|
Master's
|
26.0908 |
| Biomechanics | 2 |
|
Master's
|
26.0913 |
| General Physiology | 1 |
|
Master's
|
26.0901 |
Architecture (7 programs, 155 graduates)
Architectural Design and Construction Planning Services
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | 88 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
04.0201 |
| Urban and Regional Planning | 21 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
04.0301 |
| Architectural and Building Sciences | 20 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
04.0902 |
| Landscape Architecture | 17 |
|
Bachelor's
|
04.0601 |
| Interior Architecture | 5 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
04.0501 |
| Environmental Design and Architecture | 3 |
|
Bachelor's
|
04.0401 |
| Architectural History and Criticism | 1 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
04.0801 |
Public Services (3 programs, 135 graduates)
Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 113 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44.0701 |
| Public Administration | 11 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
44.0401 |
| Public Administration and Social Services | 11 |
|
Master's
|
44.9999 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at Ball State University (BSU).
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Ball State University (BSU)
How much does it cost to attend Ball State University (BSU)?
The annual tuition at Ball State University (BSU) is $10,758 for in-state students and $28,766 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $26,734 for in-state students and $44,742 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $12,064 and books and supplies $1,360.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does Ball State University offer?
Ball State University (BSU) offers 175 academic programs across 27 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Associate's, Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional), Other Award.
Most popular program areas include:
- Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy (44 programs)
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (18 programs)
- Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies (11 programs)
- Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (13 programs)
- Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations (7 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for Ball State University?
Ball State University (BSU) has an 71.6% acceptance rate and a 18.6% yield rate, making it selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 28,668
- Students admitted: 20,525
- Students enrolled: 3,826
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at Ball State University?
Ball State University (BSU) provides financial aid to 24% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $13,046 and average loans of $7,098.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,691
- State/Local grants: $7,642
- Institutional grants: $7,875
- Federal loans: $5,338
The university supports 2,594 students with grants and 3,146 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for Ball State University graduates?
Ball State University (BSU) graduates earn a median salary of $44,394 after 6 years and $51,833 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $36,578 (25th percentile) to $72,407 (75th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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