Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Ball State University

Ball State's nursing program graduates start strong at nearly $74,000, but that advantage doesn't last. Within four years, median earnings drop to just over $61,000—a 17% decline that puts this program well below both the national median and Indiana's state average by year four. While you'll rank in the 60th percentile among Indiana nursing programs initially, you're essentially sliding backward while peers at schools like Purdue Northwest and University of Saint Francis maintain steadier trajectories.

The $26,000 debt load is reasonable, and with that strong first-year salary, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 looks manageable on paper. But the earnings decline changes the math. That initial debt becomes harder to service as income drops, and you're losing ground compared to what you could earn at other Indiana programs. The gap isn't enormous—we're talking roughly $10,000 less than the state median by year four—but it compounds over a career.

If you're committed to Ball State for other reasons (location, campus culture, financial aid package), the program won't derail your nursing career. However, purely as a return-on-investment calculation, several Indiana alternatives deliver more stable and ultimately higher earnings. The robust sample size confirms this pattern is real, not a statistical fluke. Consider whether Ball State's other attributes justify accepting lower mid-career earnings than you'd likely see elsewhere in the state.