Is Ball State University Worth the Debt?
Graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $70,413 within 5 years, against a median debt of $27,545. The graduation rate is 10000%.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Avg Median Debt | $27,545 |
| Avg Median Earnings (1yr) | $52,000 |
| Avg Median Earnings (5yr) | $70,413 |
| Graduation Rate | 10000% |
| School Type | public |
| Majors Available | 20 |
Top Majors by ROI
| Major | ROI Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce | 77/100 | B |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 77/100 | B |
| Marketing | 77/100 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 77/100 | B |
| Accounting and Related Services | 77/100 | B |
How does Ball State University compare?
Average debt at Ball State University is $27,545, which is roughly at the national average of $26,295 for federal aid recipients. First-year earnings of $52,000 sit $5,775 below the national average of $57,775.
That works out to a debt-to-income ratio of 0.53x — meaning a graduate would need 0.5 years of full pre-tax first-year salary to clear the debt. Below 1.0x is considered manageable on a 10-year standard repayment plan. Picking the right major matters more than picking the school: at Ball State University, the Business/Commerce program scores Grade B on ROI (BUY).
Graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $70,413 within 5 years, against a median debt of $27,545. The graduation rate is 10000%.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.