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Summary
Ball State University is a public institution that was founded in 1918. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,127, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 1,140 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Ball State University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 181. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,544 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $22,534 (2011-12).
Ball State University is located in Muncie, Ind., about an hour northeast of Indianapolis. Students at Ball State can choose from about 180 undergraduate majors, including the highly ranked entrepreneurship program. In their senior year, entrepreneurship students must pass the New Venture Creation course, for which they develop a business plan that is presented to a panel of business professionals a few days before graduation. Master’s students at Ball State University can earn degrees in more than 100 fields, including those in the Miller College of Business and the Teachers College.Outside the classroom, Ball State students can get involved in more than 350 campus organizations and play club and recreational sports. More serious athletes can try out for the 12 Ball State Cardinals varsity teams, which compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference. Notable alumni include late-night talk show host David Letterman, who developed a scholarship for creative Ball State media students with average grades.
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Student-faculty collaboration and immersive, real-world learning experiences are hallmarks of a Ball State University education. These intense, interdisciplinary experiences transform students and best prepare them for 21st-century citizenry. Professors, not graduate students, teach 93 percent of the classes, and students have direct access to world-class faculty in a vibrant, supportive environment. The campus features state-of-art facilities and cutting-edge technology, especially evident in the new David Letterman Communication and Media Building and Park Residence Hall. A Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, Ball State values quality and innovation in education and is a leader in meaningfully integrating technology, including emerging media, into the curriculum. Listed among the most innovative schools, Ball State has nationally ranked and award-winning programs in entrepreneurship, landscape architecture, emerging media, music, telecommunications, educational leadership, and other disciplines, and its student organizations have consistently placed high in academic competitions. Ball State also has been recognized for excellence in freshman programs and its commitment to diversity and the environment. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1918 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | suburban |
| 2010 Endowment | $137,803,906 |
Applying
When applying to Ball State University, it's important to note the application deadline is August 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due June 30. The application fee at Ball State University is $50. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 64.6 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 65% |
| Application deadline | August 15 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | June 30 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Ball State University is 18:1, and the school has 33.8 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Ball State University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Education; Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; and Health Professions and Related Programs. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 78.2 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 18:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 34% - Medium | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Ball State University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,127, with a gender distribution of 47.4 percent male students and 52.6 percent female students. 42.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 58.0 percent of students live off campus. Ball State University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 22,083 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Ball State University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Ball State University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Ball State University, 49 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Ball State University.
| Students who have cars on campus | 49% - Medium |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Ball State University, 65.8 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,130.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $8,544 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $22,534 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $8,352 (2011-12) - Medium |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
