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Business · Accounting Rank #131 of 714

Accountingat Ball State University

Graduates earn $56,101/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Accounting average. Base-case 10-year earnings $673K; scenarios range from $591K to $703K depending on AI disruption.

Muncie, IN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
78 STRONG
80
Optimistic
75
Pessimistic
Earnings
$56,101
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$673K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
63% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Ball State University

Ball State University's Accounting program produces graduates earning $56,101/yr — within striking distance of the $53,724 national average for this field.

With a 15.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Accounting career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,172 in median debt clears quickly against $56,101 in annual earnings.

Ball State University ranks #131 among 714 Accounting programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 30% earnings increase from $56,101 to $73,013 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$591K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple13.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$673K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple15.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$703K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score80/100
Earnings Multiple16.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ball State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Accounting graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Financial managers
+14.8% 10-yr growth · 74,600 openings/yr
$161,700/yr
High
2
Financial risk specialists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$106,000/yr
High
3
Financial and investment analysts
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 25,100 openings/yr
$101,350/yr
Moderate
4
Business teachers, postsecondary
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 8,100 openings/yr
$97,270/yr
Moderate
5
Financial examiners
+18.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$90,400/yr
High
6
Budget analysts
+1.0% 10-yr growth · 3,100 openings/yr
$87,930/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Accounting

How Ball State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
79
DW Score
$90K
1-yr earn
5.3x
ROI
Washington and Lee University
VA · Private nonprofit
74
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
3.1x
ROI
Santa Clara University
CA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
4.2x
ROI
Villanova University
PA · Private nonprofit
75
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
3.4x
ROI
Lehigh University
PA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
3.8x
ROI
Also at Ball State University

Other top programs at Ball State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ball State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Accounting offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Accounting trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Accounting at Ball State University

What does a 78/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Accounting at Ball State University?

At 78/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.

Should I worry about AI if I study Accounting at Ball State University?

The 62% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is Ball State University one of the best schools for Accounting?

Among 714 Accounting programs, Ball State University's #131 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.