Anderson University vs Ball State University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Anderson University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Ball State University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Anderson University at $26,209 vs Ball State University at $27,545. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $60,500 vs $52,000.
| Metric | Anderson University | Ball State University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Public |
| State | In | In |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $26,209* | $27,545 |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $60,500* | $52,000 |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer Science (95/100)* | Business/Commerce (77/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $22,675* | $27,272 |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000* | $65,000 |
Anderson University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Ball State University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Anderson University at $26,209 vs Ball State University at $27,545. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $60,500 vs $52,000.
Explore More
Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Average median debt is roughly even across Anderson University and Ball State University. The cost side of the comparison effectively cancels out; the meaningful question becomes whether the program mix and the earnings outcomes differ enough to break the tie.
Early-career earnings run moderately apart — $52,000 versus $60,500. At the mid-range gap, the ROI math is usually decided by the debt side rather than the earnings side: the school with the more favorable cost structure typically wins the absolute return calculation even when its earnings figure is the lower of the two.
Both schools sit in In, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.