Ball State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Ball State University charges a net price of $14,940/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $59,760. Graduates earn a median $51,833 ten years after entry, $3,473/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 17.2 years — a 20-year net return of $9,700, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Ball State University's 17.2-year payback ranks #1,013 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 21% of them, and #24 of 56 in Indiana.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,940/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $59,760 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,833 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,473/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 17.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $9,700 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Ball State University's own numbers. Net price $14,940 × 4 years = $59,760 total. Median earnings $51,833 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,473 a year of premium. $59,760 ÷ $3,473 = 17.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $9,700. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Ball State University students graduate with?
A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $51,833 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Ball State University students graduate?
62% finish their degree — 38% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $59,760 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $96,387 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Ball State University expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?
Its $14,940 net price runs $4,758 below the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, and $19,030 less across the full degree.