Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at Ball State University

Ball State's Management Sciences program delivers strong earnings with remarkably low debt—a combination that puts most business degrees to shame. Starting at $67,350 and climbing to over $80,000 within four years, graduates earn above the national median while carrying less than $17,000 in debt. That 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio means students are paying back less than three months of their starting salary, a financing structure that gives graduates real financial flexibility from day one.

Within Indiana, this program holds its own against formidable competition. It matches the state median and trails Purdue by only 5%, while significantly outperforming the national benchmark. More importantly, the debt burden is among the lowest you'll find anywhere—in the 95th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt. For a mid-sized public university, this represents exceptional value.

The 20% earnings growth through year four suggests graduates are developing marketable skills that employers increasingly reward. With Ball State's accessible 72% admission rate and competitive outcomes, this program offers a practical path into analytics and quantitative business roles without the crushing debt that often accompanies business education. For Indiana families, this is one of the more straightforward "yes" decisions in the state's business program landscape.