Ball State University vs Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Ball State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Calumet College of Saint Joseph at 100.0%. Average median debt: Ball State University at $27,545 vs Calumet College of Saint Joseph at $30,829. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $52,000 vs $50,200.
| Metric | Ball State University | Calumet College of Saint Joseph |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Public | Private |
| State | In | In |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $27,545* | $30,829 |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $52,000* | $50,200 |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 10 |
| Best ROI Major | Business/Commerce (77/100)* | Business Administration, Management and Operations (76/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $27,272* | $30,524 |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $65,000 | $65,000 |
Ball State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Calumet College of Saint Joseph at 100.0%. Average median debt: Ball State University at $27,545 vs Calumet College of Saint Joseph at $30,829. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $52,000 vs $50,200.
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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 Ball State University and Calumet College of Saint Joseph. 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.
Earnings outcomes track closely — Ball State University and Calumet College of Saint Joseph graduates report similar first-year wages. The school decision in cases like this is usually decided on non-financial axes (program quality, geography, fit) since the ROI math runs close enough to be inside the noise.
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.