Business Administration, Management and Operations at Ball State University

Ball State's business program delivers remarkably strong first-year earnings at $60,526—beating the national median by over $14,000 and placing graduates in the 95th percentile nationally. While the 60th percentile ranking within Indiana might seem modest, context matters: this program still outearns the state median of $49,245 by more than $11,000, and trails only a handful of elite competitors. The low debt burden of $20,500 (well below both state and national medians of $26,000) creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 that represents exceptional affordability for a business degree.

The one puzzle here is the slight earnings dip to $59,631 by year four, though this could reflect career transitions or graduate school enrollment rather than stalled progression. More concerning would be if this pattern continued, but with nearly identical earnings across both time points, graduates are maintaining strong compensation even if they're not seeing the typical early-career bumps.

For families looking at Indiana business programs, Ball State offers top-tier outcomes without the debt load of many competitors. That combination of strong earnings and manageable debt makes this a financially smart choice, especially for students who want to avoid the burden of typical business school debt while still competing for quality jobs right out of college.