Economics at Ball State University

Ball State's economics program delivers solid national performance at $56,782 in first-year earnings—well above the national median of $51,722—but sits squarely in the middle of Indiana's competitive economics landscape. While this beats the typical economics graduate nationally by about 10%, it trails the state median and lags notably behind flagship programs like Purdue and IU (both near $59,000) and elite options like Notre Dame. Among Indiana's 28 economics programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten in-state alternatives produce higher early earnings.

The debt picture offers genuine relief: $22,054 is manageable by any standard, creating a 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates can navigate comfortably. This translates to monthly payments around $250 on a standard 10-year plan—less than 6% of gross income. Ball State's 72% admission rate and substantial Pell population (34%) suggest this represents a solid outcome for students who might not access more selective programs.

For families considering Ball State economics, this is a financially safe choice that performs well nationally but doesn't compete with Indiana's strongest options. If your child can gain admission to Purdue, IU, or DePauw, those programs justify their likely higher upfront costs with meaningfully better earnings. But if Ball State represents the realistic admission tier, the combination of low debt and above-average national performance makes this a reasonable path into the field.