First-year deadlines, 2026–27
| Plan | Entry term | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling admission The college reviews applications as they arrive until the class is full. | March 1, 2027 | |
| Rolling admission | Fall | March 1, 2027 |
Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean
Source: bsu.edu · checked September 19, 2026
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price after grants, in-state students, by family income
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026
AP credit
Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit| Exam | Min score | Ball State University course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 3 | 3 hrs, MATH 161 | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 6 hrs, MATH 161 and 162 | |
| Biology | 3 | 3 hrs, BIO 100 | |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 hrs, CHEM 100 | |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 hrs, ENG 103 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 hrs, ENG 206 | |
| United States History | 3 | 3 hrs, HIST 202 | |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 hrs, PSYS 100 |
Show all 43 exams and every score level
| Exam | Min score | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 3 | 3 hrs, MATH 161 | |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 hrs, MATH 165 | |
| Calculus AB | 5 | 4 hrs, MATH 165 | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 6 hrs, MATH 161 and 162 | |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 hrs, MATH 165 and 166 | |
| Calculus BC | 5 | 8 hrs, MATH 165 and 166 | |
| Biology | 3 | 3 hrs, BIO 100 | |
| Biology | 4 | 4 hrs, BIO 111 | |
| Biology | 5 | 8 hrs, BIO 111 and 112 | |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 hrs, CHEM 100 | |
| Chemistry | 4 | 7 hrs, CHEM 108 and 111 | |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 hrs, CHEM 111 and 112 | |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 hrs, ENG 103 | |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 hrs, ENG 103 | |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 6 hrs, ENG 103 and 104 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 hrs, ENG 206 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 hrs, ENG 206 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 3 hrs, ENG 206 | |
| United States History | 3 | 3 hrs, HIST 202 | |
| United States History | 4 | 6 hrs, HIST 201 and 202 | |
| United States History | 5 | 6 hrs, HIST 201 and 202 | |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 hrs, PSYS 100 | |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 hrs, PSYS 100 | |
| Psychology | 5 | 3 hrs, PSYS 100 | |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 hrs, MATH 181 | |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 hrs, ECON 221 | |
| Statistics | 5 | 3 hrs, ECON 221 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 hrs, CS 120 | |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 hrs, CS 120 | |
| Computer Science A | 5 | 4 hrs, CS 120 | |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 hrs, ECON 116 | |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 hrs, ECON 116 or 202 | |
| Macroeconomics | 5 | 3 hrs, ECON 116 or 202 | |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 hrs, ECON 116 | |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 hrs, ECON 116 or 201 | |
| Microeconomics | 5 | 3 hrs, ECON 116 or 201 | |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 hrs, HIST 152 | |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 6 hrs, HIST 151 AND 152 | |
| World History: Modern | 5 | 6hrs, HIST 151 and 152 | |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 hrs, NREM 101 | |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 hrs, NREM 101 | |
| Environmental Science | 5 | 3 hrs, NREM 101 | |
| European History | 3 | 3 hrs, HIST 999 | |
| European History | 4 | 3 hrs, HIST 999 | |
| European History | 5 | 3 hrs, HIST 999 | |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 hrs, GEOG 121 | |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 hrs, GEOG 121 | |
| Human Geography | 5 | 3 hrs, GEOG 121 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 14 hrs, SP 101, 102, 201 and 202 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 14 hrs, SP 101, 102, 201, and 202 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 17 hrs, SP 101, 102, 201, 202, and 301 | |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 hrs, POLS 130 | |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 hrs, POLS 130 | |
| United States Government and Politics | 5 | 3 hrs, POLS 130 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 hrs, CS 110 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 hrs, CS 110 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 5 | 3 hrs, CS 110 | |
| Art History | 3 | 3 hrs, AHS 100 | |
| Art History | 4 | 3 hrs, AHS 101 | |
| Art History | 5 | 6 hrs, AHS 101 and 102 | |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| Music Theory | 4 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| Music Theory | 5 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 hrs, ADS 990 | |
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 hrs, ADS 990 | |
| 2-D Art and Design | 5 | 3 hrs, ADS 990 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 hrs, ADS 990 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 hrs, ADS 990 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 5 | 3 hrs, ADS 990 | |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 hrs, AFAM 100 | |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 hrs, AFAM 100 | |
| African American Studies | 5 | 6 hrs, AFAM 100 and AFAM | |
| Calculus BC – AB Subscore | 3 | 3 hrs, MATH 161 | |
| Calculus BC – AB Subscore | 4 | 4 hrs, MATH 165 | |
| Calculus BC – AB Subscore | 5 | 4 hrs, MATH 165 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 12 hrs, CH101, 102 and 201 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 16 hrs, CH 101, 102, 201 and 202 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 20 hrs, CH 101, 102 201, 202, and 301 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 hrs, POLS 280 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 hrs, POLS 280 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 5 | 3 hrs, POLS 280 | |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 hrs, AFA 990 | |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 hrs, AFA 990 | |
| Drawing | 5 | 3 hrs, AFA 990 | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 14 hrs, FR 101, 102, 201 and 202 | |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 20 hrs, FR 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, and 302 | |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 20 hrs, FR 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, and 302 | |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 14 hrs, GER 101, 102, 201 and 202 | |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 17 hrs, GER 101, 102, 201, 202, and 301 | |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 20 hrs, GER 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, and 302 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 4 hrs, ITAL 990 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 4 hrs, ITAL 990 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 4 hrs, ITAL 990 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 12 hrs, JAPA 101, 102 and 201 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 16hrs, JAPA 101, 102, 201 and 202 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 20 hrs, JAPA 101, 102, 201, 202, and 301 | |
| Latin | 3 | 3 hrs, LAT 302 | |
| Latin | 4 | 3 hrs, LAT 302 | |
| Latin | 5 | 3 hrs, LAT 302 | |
| Music Aural Subscore | 3 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| Music Aural Subscore | 4 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| Music Aural Subscore | 5 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| Music Nonaural Subscore | 3 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| Music Nonaural Subscore | 4 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| Music Nonaural Subscore | 5 | 3 hrs, MUSE 265 | |
| Physics 1: Algebra-Based | 3 | 4 hrs, PHYC 110 | |
| Physics 1: Algebra-Based | 4 | 4 hrs, PHYC 110 | |
| Physics 1: Algebra-Based | 5 | 4 hrs, PHYC 110 | |
| Physics 2: Algebra-Based | 3 | 5 hrs, PHYC 112 | |
| Physics 2: Algebra-Based | 4 | 5 hrs, PHYC 112 | |
| Physics 2: Algebra-Based | 5 | 5 hrs, PHYC 112 | |
| Physics B | 3 | 4 hrs, PHYC 110 | |
| Physics B | 4 | 8 hrs, PHYC 110 and 112 | |
| Physics B | 5 | 8 hrs, PHYC 110 and 112 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 hrs, PHYC 112 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 5 hrs, PHYC 122 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | 5 hrs, PHYC 122 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 hrs, PHYC 110 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 5 hrs, PHYC 120 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 5 | 5 hrs, PHYC 120 | |
| Precalculus | 3 | 3 hrs, MATH 990 | |
| Precalculus | 4 | 6 hrs, MATH 112 and 113 | |
| Precalculus | 5 | 6 hrs, MATH 112 and 113 | |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 hrs, ID 990 | |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 hrs, ID 990 | |
| Seminar | 5 | 3 hrs, ID 990 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 14 hrs, SP 101, 102, 201 and 202 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 14 hrs, SP 101, 102, 201, and 202 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 14 hrs, SP 101, 102, 201, and 202 |
Source: admissions.bsu.edu · checked September 19, 2026
Biggest majors
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | 205 |
| Psychology | 169 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 159 |
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | 148 |
| Business/Commerce | 148 |
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 140 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences | 120 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 85 |
Show the other 95 majors
| Architecture | 84 |
| Social Work | 75 |
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology | 63 |
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts | 62 |
| Marketing/Marketing Management | 58 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 58 |
| Finance | 55 |
| English Language and Literature | 47 |
| Journalism | 45 |
| Sport and Fitness Administration/Management | 43 |
| Computer Science | 41 |
| Construction Management | 41 |
| Accounting | 41 |
| Art/Art Studies | 37 |
| Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 35 |
| Music Teacher Education | 33 |
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 31 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs | 31 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 31 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 30 |
| Advertising | 30 |
| Family Systems | 30 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching | 29 |
| Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects | 27 |
| History | 26 |
| Interior Design | 25 |
| Fashion Merchandising | 23 |
| Network and System Administration/Administrator | 22 |
| Political Science and Government | 21 |
| Design and Visual Communications | 19 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 18 |
| Landscape Architecture | 17 |
| Chemistry | 17 |
| Economics | 17 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration | 16 |
| Management Information Systems | 16 |
| Health and Wellness | 15 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 15 |
| Environmental Science | 15 |
| Sociology | 14 |
| Anthropology | 14 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 14 |
| Art Teacher Education | 14 |
| Selling Skills and Sales Operations | 13 |
| Drama and Dance Teacher Education | 12 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 11 |
| Dance | 11 |
| Dietetics/Dietitian | 11 |
| Actuarial Science | 10 |
| Real Estate | 9 |
| Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies | 9 |
| Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist | 9 |
| Music Performance | 9 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 9 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities | 9 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 9 |
| Recording Arts Technology/Technician | 8 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 7 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 7 |
| Physics | 7 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 7 |
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies | 7 |
| Management Science | 7 |
| Japanese Language and Literature | 6 |
| Spanish Language and Literature | 6 |
| Geology/Earth Science | 6 |
| Geography | 6 |
| Audiology/Audiologist | 5 |
| Philosophy | 5 |
| Data Analytics | 5 |
| Mathematics | 5 |
| Insurance | 4 |
| International Business/Trade/Commerce | 4 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 4 |
| Astronomy | 4 |
| Biology Teacher Education | 4 |
| Women's Studies | 4 |
| Music | 3 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 3 |
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 3 |
| Spanish Language Teacher Education | 3 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness | 3 |
| Environmental Design/Architecture | 3 |
| Pre-Dentistry Studies | 2 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other | 2 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 2 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2 |
| German Language Teacher Education | 2 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs | 2 |
| Technical and Scientific Communication | 2 |
| French Language and Literature | 1 |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 1 |
Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Scholarships
Amounts and eligibility change; check the college’s page for current details.
Sports and campus life
Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, MAC
Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Volleyball
Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, MAC
Basketball, Field Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving (combined), Tennis, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball
ROTC
Army
Faith groups
Cru, Hillel, InterVarsity, Newman Connection
Also
Honors college, Esports, Study abroad
Greek life
13% of men in fraternities · 9% of women in sororities · 11% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2020–21)
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), ballstatecru.com · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026
The place
Setting
City, small
Federal locale classification
Metro area
Muncie, IN
112,951 people
Big-city metro (1 million+)
No
More about the place
Nearest airport
Fort Wayne International (FWA)
Nearest hub airport
Indianapolis International (IND)
Walkability
EPA walkability index 8.3 of 20
Elevation
943 ft
Time zone
Eastern
January low
21°F
July high
86°F
Annual snowfall
19.4 in
Days at 90°F or higher
17 per year
One-bedroom fair market rent
$980 per month
Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026
Colleges nearby
- Anderson University15 mi
- Taylor University18 mi
- Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global26 mi
- Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion26 mi
- Indiana University-East36 mi
- Earlham College37 mi
Straight-line distance between campuses
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Public, city campus, NCAA Division I, similar size
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