Landscape Architecture at Ball State University

Ball State's landscape architecture program produces earnings that rank in the 95th percentile nationally—nearly $60,000 in the first year compared to a national median of $52,841. While the debt figure of $25,735 is estimated from comparable programs rather than this school's actual graduates, that 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio would represent a manageable starting position if these estimates hold. The program is one of only two in Indiana, which may contribute to its strong graduate outcomes through reduced local competition.

The caveat is modest earnings growth—just 8% over four years to $64,800. Similar landscape architecture programs nationally show the field tends to reward early-career professionals well but doesn't always offer steep salary trajectories. That said, the strong starting salary creates a buffer. Even if your child's debt ends up higher than the estimate, they'd likely be earning enough to manage payments comfortably while establishing their career.

For a professionally-focused program at an accessible public university, this looks like solid value based on peer data. The combination of competitive admission (72% acceptance rate) and strong graduate earnings suggests Ball State delivers meaningful preparation without requiring exceptional academic credentials upfront. If your child is committed to landscape architecture specifically, the estimated debt burden appears reasonable given what comparable programs typically produce—though recognize you're working with projections, not verified outcomes from this particular cohort.