Muncie, IN · Public · 13,988 undergraduates · urban
Ball State University
Moderately selective
Ball State emphasizes project-based “immersive learning,” particularly across architecture, communication, education, business, design, and applied professional programs.
Institutional profile
Established Solid in mobility, and solid in affordability.- Admission
- 71.6% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 64.9%
28,668 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$51,833 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets Ball State University apart
Academic design
Architecture and planning, communication, education, business, health, sciences, and arts participate extensively in applied project work.
Campus pattern
Muncie provides a traditional Indiana campus environment within reach of Indianapolis.
Career & value signal
Immersive projects and regional employer links support education, design, media, healthcare, and business pathways.
Can I get in?
71.6% admitted
Start with the academic record, then make the intended direction and school-specific fit concrete.
Recent applicant pool
28,668About 72 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 32% submitted an SAT, and 3% submitted an ACT. The ACT range comes from a small share of admitted students and does not describe the full class.
Admission by residency
Harder from out of state
Degree-seeking, first-time, first-year students · Fall 2025
Ball State University admitted 100% of Indiana applicants and 60.6% of applicants from other states. Residents were admitted at 1.7 times the out-of-state rate. Indiana students took 91% of the seats in the entering class.
13,125 admitted from 13,125 applicants
4,573 admitted from 7,548 applicants
1,443 admitted from 1,520 applicants
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for Ball State University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What Ball State University weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Architecture and planning, communication, education, business, health, sciences, and arts participate extensively in applied project work.
Make institutional fit specific
Ball State emphasizes project-based “immersive learning,” particularly across architecture, communication, education, business, design, and applied professional programs.
Use the application route carefully
Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and assemble each required item once.
Fee waiver: accepted
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
ArchitectureAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Teacher preparationAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
NursingAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
Ball State University publishes three merit awards, the largest reaching full tuition or more. two require a separate scholarship application. two renew past the first year.
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews each year
Through the honors college · Merit · Competitive
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews each year
In the season card
These three awards, by name
What each one is called, what it pays, the grades and scores it asks for, and what to send.
- The name of each award
- What it pays
- The grades and scores it asks for
- How to be considered
- What to send, and where
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at Ball State University
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. One university-wide earnings figure does not describe every student path.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Psychology, General
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Admits separately
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Admits separately
Business/Commerce, General
Admits separately
What is campus life like?
Ball State University beyond the classroom
Muncie provides a traditional Indiana campus environment within reach of Indianapolis.
A defining academic feature
Architecture and planning, communication, education, business, health, sciences, and arts participate extensively in applied project work.
What shapes an ordinary week
Muncie provides a traditional Indiana campus environment within reach of Indianapolis.
Where the degree can lead
Immersive projects and regional employer links support education, design, media, healthcare, and business pathways.