Ball State University

What Ball State University does

Ball State University is a public research university founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Indiana, operating as a government state entity under the State of Indiana with a Board of Trustees and President Geoffrey S. Mearns as chief executive. The institution offers more than 270 undergraduate and graduate academic programs and confers approximately 2,800 degrees annually across doctoral, specialist, master's, and baccalaureate levels. Ball State holds dual Carnegie Research 2 (R2) and Opportunity College & University (OCU) designations — one of only 27 institutions nationwide with both — and is recognized as a Top Tier university in the U.S. for economic mobility, with a 94% career placement rate and 90% of new freshmen qualifying for financial aid.

The university's technology and product portfolio centers on four pillars: (1) Ball State Online Programs, with six online degrees ranked in the top 25 nationally by U.S. News & World Report (business analytics No. 8, special education No. 11, MBA No. 14); (2) the IDIA Lab (Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts), which produces historically accurate immersive 3D virtual environments (Stonehenge, Byōdō-In Temple, Hadrian's Villa) via a partnership with Mechdyne's getReal3D for Unity platform; (3) early adoption of PeopleGrove's CORE for Education SaaS suite for AI-powered experiential learning and field placement management in teacher education; and (4) the Interprofessional Community Clinics, which provide audiology, speech pathology, counseling, and wellness services to the Muncie community while serving as training sites.

Ball State's revenue model is diversified across tuition and fees (with 90% of freshmen receiving financial aid, indicating a heavy aid-discounted tuition base), state appropriations as a public university, federal research grants (e.g., the nearly $2M U.S. Department of Education autism research grant to Teachers College), auxiliary services (housing, dining), and private donations through the Ball State Foundation and the $350 million 'Our Call to Beneficence' campaign. Customer segments span traditional undergraduate students (primary), graduate students, international students, online learners, and community members. Go-to-market is sales-led through dedicated admissions offices for undergraduate, graduate, international, and online channels, supplemented by self-serve online enrollment and athletic-program-driven brand engagement.

Name

Ball State University

Legal name

Ball State University

Website

https://bsu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ball State University is a public research university in Muncie, Indiana, founded in 1918, offering 270+ undergraduate and graduate programs to traditional, online, and international students, and funded through tuition, state appropriations, federal research grants, and private donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA), Intercollegiate Athletics (Varsity Sports Programs) (EDALAIAA), Collegiate & School Athletic Facilities (MPAKAEAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Online education programs
• Immersive learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Muncie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and course materials. The university reports 90% of new freshmen qualify for financial aid, indicating a mix of full-pay and aid-receiving students.
2. Federal Research Grants and Contracts: Ball State receives federal funding from agencies like the U.S. Department of Education for research projects, such as the nearly $2 million grant for autism education research.
3. Economic Research Services: The Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at Ball State conducts economic studies commissioned by external organizations, providing research services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ball State University is a public research university that delivers 270+ undergraduate and graduate academic programs, including bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and specialist degrees, delivered through on-campus instruction, fully online programs, and international admissions. The university also operates the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab), which produces immersive 3D virtual experiences for higher education and cultural institutions, and Interprofessional Community Clinics offering audiology, speech pathology, counseling, and wellness services to local residents.

Product overview

Ball State University is a public research university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and services. The institution provides over 270 undergraduate and graduate academic programs, with a notable emphasis on online education through Ball State Online Programs, which consistently rank among the nation's best. The university also operates the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) which creates immersive 3D educational experiences using Mechdyne's getReal3D for Unity platform. As an early adopter of PeopleGrove's CORE for Education suite, the university leverages AI-powered tools for teacher preparation programs. The institution focuses on experiential and immersive learning across its academic offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ball State Online Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% career placement rate for graduates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Destination MuncieminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Destination Muncie funded the touch-screen kiosk for the Delaware County Athletic Hall of Fame display area at the Horizon Convention Center, with Ball State hosting induction ceremonies at the Ball State Alumni Center.
• Heart of Indiana United WayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Ball State University's Interprofessional Community Clinics redesigned waiting area developed through partnership with Heart of Indiana United Way, supported by George and Frances Ball Foundation and Early Years Indiana. The transformation was inspired by United Way's early language development initiatives.
• Early Years IndianaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Partnership supporting Ball State University Interprofessional Community Clinics redesign project focused on early learning and family engagement.
• Greyhound Protection Group (GREY2K USA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026The Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University conducted an economic study commissioned by Greyhound Protection Group (GREY2K USA) on West Virginia greyhound racing economics.
• MechdynecoreTechnology or Integration · 9 February 2026Ball State University's Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) partnered with Mechdyne to deliver immersive, educational 3D experiences to higher education institutions, museums, and other organizations through Mechdyne's getReal3D for Unity platform. The collaboration combines Mechdyne's visualization technology with IDIA Lab's expertise in creating interactive virtual environments, resulting in a curated library of experiences exploring historic and cultural sites.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Purdue University: Indiana's land-grant R1 public university. Competes with Ball State for in-state undergraduates, STEM and engineering students, and online learners across Indiana; serves as a key peer institution for state funding, Carnegie R-class comparison, and athletics (both NCAA Division I).
• Central Michigan University: Public regional research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan with similar enrollment, R2 Carnegie classification, and Division I athletics footprint. Frequently compared with Ball State in Midwestern state-university benchmarking.
• Illinois State University: Public regional university in Normal, Illinois with comparable enrollment, comprehensive program mix, and Division I athletics (Missouri Valley Conference). Frequently co-listed with Ball State in Midwestern public-school rankings and Carnegie R2 peer comparisons.
• Ohio University: Public R2 university in Athens, Ohio with a similar enrollment scale and regional public-school mission. Comparable program breadth, online program portfolio, and residential campus model make it a strong Carnegie peer for Ball State.
• Eastern Michigan University: Public regional university in Ypsilanti, Michigan with comparable enrollment scale, comprehensive program offering, and Division I athletics. Shares Ball State's positioning as an accessible public research institution serving a regional Midwestern market.
• Indiana University Bloomington: Indiana's flagship R1 public university located ~60 miles from Ball State. Competes directly with Ball State for Indiana-resident undergraduates, graduate students, and online learners, and is the primary in-state benchmark for enrollment, faculty recruitment, and brand positioning.
• University of Northern Iowa: Public regional comprehensive university in Cedar Falls, Iowa with similar enrollment scale and Division I athletics. Operates as a comparable Midwestern state-affiliated regional public institution with broad undergraduate and graduate program offerings.
• Miami University (Ohio): Public R2 Midwestern residential university of comparable enrollment size and Carnegie classification. Operates a similar comprehensive program portfolio, public-school tuition model, and Division I athletics footprint in a comparable Midwestern market.
• Western Michigan University: Public regional research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan with similar enrollment size, Carnegie R2 classification, and Division I athletics. Operates a comparable mix of undergraduate, graduate, and online programs in a Midwestern regional market.
• Indiana State University: Indiana's other regional public university, located in Terre Haute. Directly comparable to Ball State in state funding dynamics, enrollment scale, Carnegie classification, and Division I athletics; serves the same Indiana-resident applicant pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BallState
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7BlJ0ND-ZYXm5j_3s_59ig
• Facebookfacebook.com/ballstate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ball-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/ballstateuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ball State University