Management Information Systems and Services at Ball State University

Ball State's MIS program starts below both state and national benchmarks but shows something parents should value: reliable upward momentum. First-year graduates earn $53,597—notably trailing Indiana's $66,258 median and ranking in just the 25th percentile among in-state MIS programs. That's a meaningful gap when you consider Indiana Wesleyan graduates start at $66,258. However, by year four, earnings climb 30% to $69,393, eventually catching and slightly exceeding state averages. The $25,000 debt load, meanwhile, runs well below Indiana's typical $42,000 for this program, creating a manageable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio even in that slower first year.

The pattern here suggests Ball State's MIS graduates may need more time to establish themselves compared to peers from Notre Dame or other Indiana programs, but they're building toward competitive mid-career outcomes without the debt burden common elsewhere in the state. For families prioritizing lower risk over immediate returns, this combination works. Just understand your student will likely start their career earning less than most Indiana MIS graduates, and factor that into plans for those crucial first couple years after college.