Mathematics at Ball State University

Based on comparable mathematics programs across Indiana, Ball State appears positioned in the middle of the state's range—similar programs suggest first-year earnings around $59,000 against roughly $22,000 in debt. That 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, and the estimated debt sits right at the national median for math bachelor's degrees. Indiana's math programs generally outperform the national benchmark ($59,000 versus $49,000 nationally), though the state's flagships like Notre Dame and Rose-Hulman pull significantly higher numbers for their graduates.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates derived from peer programs, since Ball State's own math cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report publicly. The $59,000 figure comes from averaging seven Indiana math programs, and the debt estimate comes from five similar institutions. Ball State could reasonably perform better or worse than these benchmarks—a 72% admission rate and mid-range SAT scores suggest a solid regional university, but don't tell us how their specific math curriculum and employer connections stack up.

For parents, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value if they hold true, but you're essentially betting on Ball State tracking with state averages rather than having concrete data on where their math graduates actually land. If proximity to home and Ball State's teaching focus matter to your family, the risk may be acceptable. If you're chasing maximum earnings potential, programs with reported outcomes like IU-Bloomington or Purdue offer more certainty about what you're paying for.