Location: Muncie, IN•In-State Tuition: $10,758•Out-of-State Tuition: $28,766•Admission Rate: 72%•Avg SAT: 1172
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$40,706
Est. from IN median (3 programs)
Median Debt
$27,075
At national median

Analysis

Indiana's psychology bachelor's programs cluster tightly around $40,700 in first-year earnings, and Ball State appears positioned right in this range based on peer outcomes. With debt of $27,075—notably below both the state median of $38,759 and sitting at the national median—the 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could manage repayment on a reasonable timeline, dedicating roughly 8 months of gross income to clearing their loans if they focused aggressively.

The reality check: $40,700 annually translates to about $3,400 monthly before taxes, which means these graduates typically need roommates, budget carefully, or find supplemental income while making loan payments. Psychology bachelor's degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate programs in counseling or clinical work rather than endpoints, so families should factor in whether their student plans additional education (and debt). Ball State's 72% admission rate and solid academic profile suggest accessible education without the premium pricing that drives debt higher at some competitors.

The practical takeaway: Ball State's estimated debt load is manageable compared to peer programs in Indiana, but the earning power of a psychology bachelor's alone is modest. If your student plans to enter the workforce immediately rather than pursue graduate training, they should have clear career plans beyond entry-level roles—perhaps in HR, social services, or research coordination—where this degree opens doors without requiring years of additional schooling.

Where Ball State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all clinical, counseling and applied psychology bachelors's programs nationally

Ball State University (estimated ±10%)Other clinical, counseling and applied psychology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (9 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Ball State UniversityMuncie$10,758$40,706*—$27,075—
Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion$31,168$40,706*—$38,7590.95
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMarion$8,216$40,706*—$38,7590.95
Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette$10,110$35,086*—$42,4431.21
National Median—$34,506*—$27,0000.78
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with clinical, counseling and applied psychology graduates

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Management Analysts

Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

$101,190/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

School Psychologists

Diagnose and implement individual or schoolwide interventions or strategies to address educational, behavioral, or developmental issues that adversely impact educational functioning in a school. May address student learning and behavioral problems and counsel students or families. May design and implement performance plans, and evaluate performance. May consult with other school-based personnel.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychologists, All Other

All psychologists not listed separately.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Neuropsychologists

Apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to evaluate and diagnose disorders of higher cerebral functioning, often in research and medical settings. Study the human brain and the effect of physiological states on human cognition and behavior. May formulate and administer programs of treatment.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Clinical Neuropsychologists

Assess and diagnose patients with neurobehavioral problems related to acquired or developmental disorders of the nervous system, such as neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, and learning disabilities. Recommend treatment after diagnosis, such as therapy, medication, or surgery. Assist with evaluation before and after neurosurgical procedures, such as deep brain stimulation.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Human Resources Specialists

Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

$72,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Specialists

Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

$65,850/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Ball State University, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in IN. Actual outcomes may vary.