Ball State acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Ball State University · Public · Muncie, IN · 14,874 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Ball State admitted 71.6% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 60.5% in 2013. Indiana residents pay $11,082 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $29,630.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 60.5% | 17,118 | 10,364 |
| 2014 | 59.9% | 18,107 | 10,842 |
| 2015 | 60.5% | 22,147 | 13,399 |
| 2016 | 62.3% | 24,735 | 15,398 |
| 2017 | 62.1% | 24,191 | 15,017 |
| 2018 | 64.8% | 23,988 | 15,539 |
| 2019 | 76.7% | 23,305 | 17,878 |
| 2020 | 87.0% | 20,167 | 17,555 |
| 2021 | 68.2% | 22,947 | 15,642 |
| 2022 | 68.9% | 22,859 | 15,761 |
| 2023 | 71.6% | 28,668 | 20,525 |
Applications went from 17,118 in fall 2013 to 28,668 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $8,013 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $7,780 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $10,537 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $16,425 |
| Over $110,000 | $23,618 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $11,082 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $29,630 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $26,787 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $13,877 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 32% submitted the SAT, 3% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana University IN | 80.4% | $12,144 in-state |
| IUPUI IN | 81.4% | $10,762 in-state |
| Purdue IN | 50.3% | $9,992 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Ball State University in Muncie received 28,668 applications for fall 2023 and made 20,525 offers, so its admit rate was 71.6%.1 Compared with 60.5% in fall 2013, that is a rise of 11.1 percentage points.1 A spike to 87.0% in 2020 interrupted the pattern, and just 3 of the 10 yearly changes were declines.1 Applications grew 67% and admitted students grew 98% from 2013 to 2023.1
Test scores are optional. SAT scores came from 32% of enrolled students and ACT scores from 3%.1 Middle 50% ranges were 550 to 630 for SAT reading and writing and 530 to 620 for SAT math, with ACT composites from 25 to 30.1
Ball State charges Indiana residents $11,082 in tuition and fees for 2025-26 and students from elsewhere $29,630.2 The in-state price is above the $9,104 median of the 12 public bachelor's colleges in Indiana.2 For 2024-25, the average net price was $8,013 in the $0 to $30,000 income band, $10,537 in the $48,001 to $75,000 band, and $23,618 above $110,000.2
Ball State graduated 62% of its 2019 entrants within 6 years, a bit above the Indiana median of 59%.2 Ball State's retention rate for fall 2023 entrants was 78%, while 38% of its undergraduates received Pell grants.2 Median earnings reached $56,674 10 years after entry, below the $58,867 state median, and the median debt of borrowers was $20,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 28,668 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 20,525 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 3,826 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 14,874 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 550 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 630 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 530 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 620 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 25 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 30 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 32% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 3% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $11,082 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $29,630 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $26,787 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $13,877 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $8,013 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $7,780 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $10,537 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $16,425 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $23,618 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 62% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 78% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 38% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $56,674 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $20,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Indiana (N = 12) | $9,104 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Indiana (N = 44) | 59% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, Indiana (N = 44) | $58,867 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Ball State, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page