Ball State University vs Goshen College: which has better ROI?
Goshen College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,972 in 16.2 years versus 17.2 years at Ball State University, on median earnings of $51,943 vs $51,833 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ball State University | Goshen College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,940 | $14,493 |
| Total net cost | $59,760 | $57,972 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,833 | $51,943 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $22,974 |
| Payback | 17.2 yrs | 16.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $9,700 | $13,688 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ball State University or Goshen College?
Goshen College, at $14,493 a year after aid versus $14,940 — a gap of $447 a year, or $1,788 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ball State University or Goshen College graduates earn more?
Goshen College graduates report a median $51,943 ten years after entry, $110 more than the $51,833 at Ball State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Ball State University or Goshen College?
Goshen College: its completers carry a median $22,974 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Ball State University, a difference of $276. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Goshen College, against 62% at Ball State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.