Back to Colleges
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 13,770 Undergrads 65.9% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,134
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,898
After Aid
Median Earnings
$51,833
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,898
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$51,833
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate65.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients36.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time93.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS74.6%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
71.6%
SAT Avg
1,172
SAT Reading
25th: 55056075th: 630
SAT Math
25th: 53055075th: 620
ACT Composite
25th: 252475th: 30
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$452k
+$56k
-$32k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$395k
-$2k
-$90k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$362k
-$35k
-$123k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-156%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-136%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-142%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-86%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,479
Lifetime Value Added
+$62k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$56,983
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,172
Earnings (5yr)
$73,013
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,858
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$43,370
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$28,035
Earnings (5yr)
$62,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$491
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,229
Earnings (5yr)
$47,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$114k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,414
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$24,025
Earnings (5yr)
$61,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$26,821
Earnings (5yr)
$70,574
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,909
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$58,906
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$23,512
Earnings (5yr)
$86,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$182k
Construction Management
BachCIP: 5220
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (2yr)
$64,493
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,982
Earnings (5yr)
$53,870
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Lifetime Value Added
-$283k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$54,782
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$24,340
Earnings (5yr)
$32,171
Lifetime Value Added
-$246k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$293k
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other
BachCIP: 1599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,133
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$39,232
Lifetime Value Added
-$186k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,288
Lifetime Value Added
-$119k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$69,618
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$42,441
Lifetime Value Added
-$159k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$89k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$24,750
Earnings (5yr)
$52,447
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,192
Earnings (5yr)
$54,684
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
BachCIP: 5111
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$71,579
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,341
Earnings (5yr)
$42,879
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$64,797
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,533
Lifetime Value Added
+$141k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$24,418
Earnings (5yr)
$54,057
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Landscape Architecture
BachCIP: 0406
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,909
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
BachCIP: 2299
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,488
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$23,125
Earnings (5yr)
$46,722
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$22,665
Earnings (5yr)
$77,623
Lifetime Value Added
+$119k
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
BachCIP: 5213
Median Debt
$16,654
Earnings (5yr)
$94,152
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$21,825
Earnings (5yr)
$60,408
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,352
Lifetime Value Added
-$102k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$46,744
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$25,410
Earnings (5yr)
$49,159
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,364
Earnings (5yr)
$47,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$54,927
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$23,146
Earnings (5yr)
$43,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$148k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$24,732
Earnings (5yr)
$70,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$21,702
Earnings (5yr)
$41,975
Lifetime Value Added
-$163k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,972
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$45,042
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$19,448
Earnings (5yr)
$50,157
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Special Education and Teaching
BachCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,351
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$21,954
Earnings (5yr)
$45,064
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (5yr)
$53,195
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Educational Administration and Supervision
PB-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$79,317
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Special Education and Teaching
PB-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,897
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,978
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,743
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Business/Commerce, General
MastCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$23,417
Earnings (5yr)
$108,529
Lifetime Value Added
+$483k
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning
MastCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$61,196
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$36,910
Earnings (5yr)
$54,190
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$40,467
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$33,092
Earnings (5yr)
$55,901
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
MastCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$30,949
Earnings (5yr)
$59,324
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$21,304
Earnings (5yr)
$79,363
Lifetime Value Added
+$233k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$19,632
Earnings (5yr)
$110,356
Lifetime Value Added
+$499k
Journalism
MastCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,521
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$43,116
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$33,250
Earnings (5yr)
$108,909
Lifetime Value Added
+$487k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$16,516
Earnings (5yr)
$52,929
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,280
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,600
Earnings (5yr)
$59,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Graduate Certificates
Business/Commerce, General
Gr-CertCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$87,358
Lifetime Value Added
+$387k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,478
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$95,300
Lifetime Value Added
+$461k
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
Gr-CertCIP: 1306
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,434
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$27,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,861
Lifetime Value Added
+$205k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$53,575
Earnings (2yr)
$47,846
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.